Harlyn Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's cut to the chase. We've got a long window ahead with a lot of nothing before things kick up. The first week is mostly flat and small, so don't get too excited about paddling out just yet. But don't worry, it's not going to stay that way. The forecast has a few big pulses on the horizon if you're willing to wait.

The first glimmer of anything surfable isn't until Wednesday, August 26th. We've got 4ft of SW swell on the morning, but it's a short-period, weak pulse with low energy. The wind is offshore from the SSE at 18 mph, which will keep it tidy, but the waves will be soft and lack any punch. It's a grovel session if you're desperate. It drops off from there, with the light winds on Thursday the 27th keeping the 3ft of west swell clean, but it's lacking any power.

The real event, the one that stands out head and shoulders above the rest, is the weekend of August 29th and 30th. Saturday morning sees the swell start to build, reaching 8ft from the WSW. But it’s the afternoon that really delivers. We're looking at 12ft of west swell with a 10-second period and massive energy. This is a serious ocean, not for the faint of heart. It's big, powerful surf. The cross-off wind will keep the face somewhat manageable, but this is only for experts. Anyone else needs to be on the beach. Sunday maintains that size, with 10ft of west swell and a similar period. The wind is lighter, which helps, but the sheer amount of water moving is intimidating. This is a life-affirming session for the elite, and a death wish for anyone else.

After that, the swell backs off into the first days of September. Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st are smaller, but the wind is onshore and it's going to be messy. The 2nd of September brings another spike in size, with 10ft on the morning, but it's junky, short-period, cross-shore wind-slop. Not worth a look. Thursday the 3rd has a clean 5ft in the morning, but the afternoon blows out with another 10ft of short-period junk. The last day we have, Friday the 4th, is onshore, bumpy, and just ugly.

So, the standout is clearly the afternoon of Saturday, August 29th, and then Sunday, August 30th. That's when you want to be there if you're charging. The water temp is 66°F, which is about 4°F warmer than normal, so you'll be comfortable in a spring suit. Otherwise, it's a waiting game for cleaner, smaller conditions. For everyone else, it’s probably better to grab the kiteboard during those big windy days. It’s a long flat spell, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. The surf will come back. This is Rusty, out.

Read more