Gleneden Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s coming down the line for Gleneden Beach.

Honestly, it’s a rough start. We’re looking at a long, dry patch with nothing worth paddling out for the first week and a half. From Wednesday the 5th all the way through to Sunday the 16th, it’s pretty much a dead loss. The combined swell energy is mostly weak to moderate, in the hundreds (weak to moderate energy), and the wind is a constant headache – cross-on and cross-shore breezes keeping everything choppy and messy. The swell direction is all over the place, but mostly from the NW and NNW, with short, weak periods mostly between 6 and 8 seconds, meaning no real power or shape. Even when we get a pulse of long-period SW swell on the 10th and 12th, it’s tiny at 1ft – not enough to ride. This is just one of those dead spells for the beach.

The water temp is sitting at about 55°, which is a solid 4° colder than normal for this time of year – it’s going to feel extra chilly if you’re thinking of paddling out, especially with that wind.

But hang tight, because things finally start to change around the middle of the second week. It won’t be perfect, but there are glimmers.

The first real chance comes on Sunday afternoon the 16th. We get a bit of swell building, with the combined energy climbing up to 468 (moderate energy) and a 5ft NW swell on offer. The big news is the wind – it’s glassy. Absolutely flat calm conditions, which is a major positive. The waves will be clean, even if they’re not huge. This is a good one to keep an eye on for a fun, uncrowded session.

Then Monday morning the 17th, we get a weird little pulse: a 2ft SW swell with a very long 15-second period, and again, glassy conditions. A long period groundswell like that at a beach break can sometimes close out or be too straight, but with the wind off, you might find some clean little runners.

Now, the real standout that I’m getting a little excited about is Wednesday afternoon the 19th. This is the best call in the whole window. The swell picks up to 4ft from the WNW with an 11-second period, and the combined swell energy hits a solid 630 (strong energy). But the clincher is the wind: light and cross-offshore. That cross-off wind will groom the faces beautifully. The forecast says “clean” conditions, and for Gleneden Beach, that’s the best you’re likely to see. This is the session to pencil in.

Just a note on that August 19th highlight – with the swell size around chest high and clean conditions, it’s not too big for intermediates. The waves should have decent shape, but expect some gaps between sets with that longer period.

So, sum it up: the first 11 days are a bust. Then Sunday the 16th gives us a glassy window, but the real sweet spot is Wednesday the 19th with clean, cross-off conditions and proper energy. Don’t get your hopes up too high for the rest, but that one afternoon looks promising.

Stay patient, Rusty.

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