Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the menu for Fourth Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first real chance to get wet is Thursday afternoon, but she’s pretty marginal. The swell is a mix of 4.6ft from the SSW with a very long period of 15 seconds, but a fresh ENE breeze of 19 mph is making things cross-off and the water is a touch warm for this time of year at 61.7°, about 1.1° above normal. That’s just a bit milder than usual, nothing crazy. The combined energy is moderate (999). Honestly, it’s not worth rushing out for.

You wanna wait for Friday morning. That’s the first proper standout. The swell is still 4.6ft from the SSW, but the period stretches to 16 seconds and the wind swings to a light NE breeze at 6 mph, blowing cross-off. The energy jumps up to strong (1305) and the water will be clean. This is the kind of glassy morning that’ll have the lines running in clean. It’s an advanced break and it’s fairly exposed, so that long-period groundswell from the SSW is going to wrap in nicely. It’s a good one.

Saturday morning looks okay too, with a 4.6ft SW swell and 17 seconds, but a fresh WNW wind of 19 mph keeps it just marginal. The energy is strong (1179) but the wind is a bit much for a perfect session. Saturday afternoon gets worse, with a cross-on shore chop.

Sunday is a write-off with onshore winds and chop. Monday morning brings a solid 8.2ft SSW swell, but a cross-on breeze and cloudy skies spoil it. That’s big for most folks and with a short-ish 14-second period, it’s a lumpy mess. Afternoon sees it jump to 9.8ft with a 19 mph cross-on wind – that’s expert territory and messy. Not a good time.

We get a bit of a reprieve on Tuesday morning, with a 7.5ft SSW swell and a cross-off ENE breeze at 16 mph. The energy is strong (2163) and the water is clean, but it’s still a big swell for this beach. Wednesday morning looks like a real treat: 5.9ft SSW swell, 14 seconds, and a light NE wind at 6 mph blowing cross-off. The energy is strong (1301) and the water will be glassy. That’s another session to mark on the calendar.

Thursday the 17th morning has a clean 4.9ft SSW swell with a solid offshore NNW breeze at 16 mph. The energy is moderate (902), but it’s clean and lined up. Afternoon is a bit of a let down with a light cross-on.

The following week gets a bit messy. Friday the 18th has a smaller 3.6ft SW swell with a 12-second period, but the wind is light and cross-off in the morning, then offshore in the afternoon. Clean, but small. Saturday the 19th is a no-go with onshore winds and chop. Sunday the 20th morning is a surprise: 5.6ft SW swell with a short 9-second period, but a light offshore NNW wind at 6 mph. The energy is moderate (854) and the water will be clean. Short period means it’ll be a bit crumbly and weaker, but it’s a fun option if you’re desperate.

Monday the 21st morning is clean with a 3.9ft SSW swell and 13 seconds, light cross-off wind. Nice.

Then the door caves in. From Monday afternoon through Wednesday the 24th, we’ve got a big stormy stretch. Solid 7.5ft to 14.8ft swells with strong onshore winds and rain. The energy goes through the roof (strong to very strong, hitting 10405 on Wednesday morning). That’s not paddle surfing, that’s kite surf territory or a straight-up reef beatdown. The wind is nasty and cross-on, making it messy and lumpy.

Thursday the 24th is still big with 8.2ft SSW swells, 15 seconds, and a cross-on breeze. The energy is extreme (4590). It’s a bit of a mess but the swell is there. Friday the 25th is the last standout in the window. A solid 9.8ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, but the wind is a light NE cross-off at 9 mph in the morning. The energy is very strong (4431) and the water is clean. That’s a big, powerful groundswell hitting an advanced break. It’ll be a heavy, long-period beast – best for experts on a point or reef, as it might stand up too straight on the beach. The afternoon sees the wind pick up to a cross-shore, but the morning is the pick.

So, in a nutshell: the best of the best are Friday morning, September 11th and Wednesday morning, September 16th for clean, solid SSW groundswell with light winds. The Friday morning, September 25th is a big, powerful, clean option for the experts, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it. The rest of the window is mostly marginal or messy, with a big stormy chunk in the middle. It’s

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