Haambatia (Herzliya) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch on the cards for the Herzliya area. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with barely a ripple worth paddling for. The first real sniff of anything rideable doesn’t show up until Sunday, the 16th of August, and even then it’s a real struggle.

The water is sitting at a warm 85°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a wetsuit, but you’ll need patience.

For the first two weeks, from the 3rd of August all the way through to the 16th, it’s a complete bust. We’re talking tiny, weak swell, mostly from the NW or WNW, with periods around 5 to 8 seconds – that’s short-period, wind-driven slop. The combined wave energy barely cracks double digits, often sitting below 100 – weak energy. The winds are a nightmare, mostly cross-onshore or onshore from the NW, with a few lighter mornings, but the swell is just too small for anything to work. It’s a solid 13-day gap with no real surf.

Finally, on the morning of Sunday, the 16th of August, we get a small window. Haambatia (Herzliya) wakes up to glassy conditions. The wind is dead calm from the WNW, making it look like a sheet of glass. The swell is a pathetic 3 ft from the WNW, with a period of 7 seconds and combined energy of 63 – still weak. The comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and that’s being generous. It’s not a standout by any stretch; it’s just the only thing you can even consider. The water temp anomaly is a touch warmer than normal. This is a beginner-level break, but it’s inconsistent and often crowded, and with swell this tiny, it’s really just a paddle for the die-hards. The wind will turn cross-onshore in the afternoon, so that morning window is the only shot.

Then on Monday the 17th, the morning is glassy again but with only 1 ft of swell – barely a ripple. The 18th of August sees a tiny bump to 3 ft, but with cross or onshore winds again.

Look, I hate to say it, but this is a blank run for the area. It’s one of those stretches where the forecasts can change, but right now, if you’re not desperate, sit this one out. The setup is so poor that the beach breaks will be more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers.

Rusty.

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