Harbor Entrance at Eureka Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

We’re looking at a stretch with a few solid windows, but there’s a quiet gap in the middle you’ll want to plan around. The first real action kicks off right away and then there’s a lull for a few days, before things get interesting again heading into the second week.

We kick things off on Tuesday, September 1st at Harbor Entrance at Eureka. The water is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no shock to the system there. The morning session is the pick early on. We’ve got a clean 4 ft NW swell with a 10-second period, and the combined swell energy is modest at 294. The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSW, so the waves will have some shape. It’s a fairly consistent spot, but it can get a crowd, so keep an eye out. This is a solid starter.

The afternoon of the 1st gets a bit windier, dropping quality. Then Wednesday morning the 2nd sees a little 2 ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period (332 energy), but it's a bit weak and the wind is up. The afternoon of the 2nd is a washout with poor conditions.

Thursday, September 3rd is where things get interesting. The morning brings a 7 ft NW swell (921 energy) with a moderate 11-second period. The wind is cross-off, so it’s rideable, but the size is pushing into intermediate territory. The afternoon, however, is the standout of the whole outlook. We get a solid 10 ft NW swell (2754 energy) with a 12-second period. That’s a big, powerful groundswell. The wind is pure cross from the SW, which will keep it lined up. This is a proper session for experienced surfers – the size is up there, and the energy is pumping. The harbour entrance setup can handle this kind of swell. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Friday the 4th still has 7 ft of NW swell, but the wind is onshore and then cross-on, so it’s not as clean.

We then hit a dry spell. From Saturday, September 5th through to Monday the 7th, the swell drops right off and the conditions are poor. It’s small, weak, and messy. There’s nothing worth paddling out for. The lull lasts a solid few days.

Tuesday, September 8th sees a bump in size, but it’s a short-period, lumpy 8 ft to 10 ft NNW swell. The wind is onshore or cross-on, so it’s a messy, powerful wall of water. This setup looks more like a kite surfer’s playground than a paddle surfer's dream – the conditions are just too rough.

The next real gem hits on Wednesday, September 9th. The afternoon session is a dead-cert sleeper. The swell is tiny at 2 ft, but it’s a 19-second SW groundswell (609 energy) and the wind goes glassy. That’s right – glassy. The waves will be clean, long-period lines. For a mellow, clean session, this is a hidden gem.

Thursday, September 10th morning has a nice 5 ft NW swell (1192 energy) with a 12-second period and light onshore wind. It’s a solid option but not as clean as the glassy day before.

After another small, messy few days, the final highlight comes on Monday, September 14th. The morning has a 5 ft NW swell (1210 energy) with a long 14-second period and light onshore wind. It’s got good energy and shape. Then Wednesday, September 16th finishes things off with a bang. The morning has a 5 ft NW swell (1917 energy) with a 12-second period, and the afternoon sees a big 12 ft NW swell (1947 energy) – but it’s short-period at 8 seconds, so it’s a powerful, chunky mess for experts only.

So, to sum it up: the best waves on offer are Thursday afternoon, September 3rd for the big, clean NW groundswell, and the sneaky glassy session on Wednesday afternoon, September 9th for a clean, long-period treat.

Rusty.

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