Harlyn Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here, checking in on the Harlyn region. Now, I've gotta be straight with you – this 16-day outlook is a tough one to write. The rideable swell just isn't showing up for the vast majority of the window, and the quality is poor. It's not a typical run for this area, but sometimes the forecast gods just don't line things up.

The biggest problem is the simple lack of decent wave energy. For the first 15 days, the swell is all under 3 feet, and the combined energy is mostly a two-digit number, topping out at just 135 on Friday, July 10th. That's weak energy, and the period is often short – 8 seconds or less – making for a mushy, weak wave. The winds are also a constant problem, usually cross-on, onshore, or just too strong, keeping the surface bumpy and messy.

We don't even get a mentionable wave until late in the run. The standout option – and I use the term lightly given the conditions – lands right at the end of the forecast on Wednesday afternoon, July 22nd. Now, this is where it finally gets interesting. Out of nowhere, we get a pulse of swell hitting Harlyn. The combined energy jumps to 307, which is a solid notch of moderate wave energy, and the swell height sits at 5 feet. The period is 8 seconds, so it's a short-period windswell. The catch is that it's coming from the west with a fresh cross-onshore wind, so expect messy, lumpy lines. It's the only day with real power, and it'll be a choppy, challenging session for experienced surfers only, as the height is pushing into the expert-only zone for the conditions.

Before that, for the entire first two weeks, there is nothing worth paddling out for. We're talking day after day of ankle-biters and wind-lumps. The water temperature at Harlyn for the first entry on July 7th was 62°F with an anomaly of 2°F, so a touch warmer than normal for the time of year. That's a small mercy.

If you're desperate, the cleanest junky waves might come on Tuesday morning, July 14th, with a cross-off wind and 3 feet swell from the NNE, but the combined energy is still weak at 102. For a beach break with these conditions, it honestly looks more like a day for a kite surfer to get a few runs in than for a traditional paddle surfer.

In summary, wait for Wednesday the 22nd if you're an expert who doesn't mind sketchy conditions. For everyone else, give this one a miss. It's a long, dry spell.

Rusty.

Read more