Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a run of surf coming our way, but it’s a mixed bag of good and *too much of a good thing*. The first real action hits Monday the 20th, and it’s a solid start. The swell is building from the SSW at 7 ft with a proper 13-second period, pumping a strong 1326 combined energy. That’s some serious grunt. The water is sitting at 63°F, which is about spot on for this time of year. The wind is a gentle offshore from the NNW, so expect clean, lined-up waves. That’s the pick of the early window.

By Tuesday the 21st, the swell holds but the wind swings around, getting a bit messy. It’s not the clean stuff we want. Wednesday the 22nd is a no-go – the swell jacks up to 10 ft and 12 ft, with onshore winds and a massive 6000 combined energy. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, the wind is rubbish. For the average surfer, stay on the beach.

Thursday the 23rd has some size at 10 ft, but the wind is cross-shore, making it a bit of a battle. Not the best for a paddle. The energy is still high at 3243.

Now, here’s the sweet spot for the week. Friday the 24th morning sees the swell drop to a very manageable 6 ft, still from the SSW, with a clean offshore wind from the NNW. The energy is down to 1025, but it’s clean. The afternoon gets even better – 5 ft, a light cross-offshore breeze, and the waves will be peeling nicely. This is the session to aim for if you don’t want to get pounded.

Saturday the 25th drops further to 5 ft in the morning and 4 ft in the afternoon, with light offshore winds. It’s fun, small waves, but not a standout.

Sunday the 26th gets windy and small, so we’ll ignore that.

Looking into the second week, there’s a promising pulse on Monday the 27th, but the wind is onshore, so it’s a pass. The real one to watch is Tuesday the 28th. The swell jumps back to 10 ft from the SSW, with a 16-second period – that’s long-period groundswell. The energy is huge at 6700. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s workable for the experts. For a beach break, that long period might make it a bit straight, but if you’re on a reef or a point, you’ll be in for a treat.

Then Wednesday the 29th is another big one – 10 ft, a 17-second period, and a clean cross-offshore wind. The energy is 4757. That’s a serious day for the experienced crew.

After that, things taper off. The end of the month and into August sees the swell drop below 3 ft, so it’s back to the small stuff.

Overall, if you’re looking for a standout, I’d point to Friday the 24th for the clean, manageable conditions. For the big-wave chargers, Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are the ones to circle, but that’s for the experts only. Crowds are possible at Fourth Beach, so get there early.

Rusty.

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