Horace Caldwell Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, and I’ve taken a long, hard look at what’s on offer for our patch over the next couple of weeks. I’ve got to be straight with you – the outlook for Horace Caldwell Pier is a tough one right now. We’re looking at a real dry spell for any decent surf.

The core issue is that the swell we’re seeing is small, weak, and coming from the wrong direction with a short period. The water temp is sitting around 84°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there. But the waves… they’re just not there.

Let’s run through it. From Tuesday, July 7th, right through the rest of that week and into the next, it’s all "poor surf conditions." The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, from the SSE or SE, and the swell is tiny – hovering between 2 ft and 4 ft. The wave energy is weak, barely getting into the moderate bracket, with figures like 35 and 84 (combined energy of all swells directed here). The period is short, mostly around 5 to 6 seconds, which means no power and no shape. This is not a time to paddle out.

We hit a bit of a gap here. There’s nothing to recommend until we get to Tuesday, July 14th. On the morning of the 14th, we finally get a glimmer of something. The wind goes glassy – yes, glassy! – and the ocean goes flat calm. The swell is still tiny at 3 ft from the SE, with a period of just 6 seconds and weak energy (72). The file calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It’s a 1 out of 10 situation. If you absolutely need to get wet to keep your sanity, you might find a knee-high ripple, but don’t expect a wave you can actually ride with any joy. That’s the only real window, and it’s a small one, because Tuesday afternoon the onshore wind is back with a vengeance.

After that, we’re back into the grind. From Wednesday, July 15th, all the way to Wednesday, July 22nd, it’s the same story. Onshore winds, tiny swell from the SE with a short 5-6 second period, and consistent "poor surf conditions" ratings. The energy never gets strong, topping out at a moderate 101 on the 21st of July, but with the wind howling onshore, it’s just messy, lumpy, and unrideable.

There are no standouts here, I’m sorry to say. This is one of those long, flat, blown-out runs that can happen. Because the break is fairly consistent normally, I wouldn't lose all hope – forecasts can change. But based on what I see right now, leave the board at home. If the wind keeps up and the swell stays this weak, this setup is honestly looking more interesting for the kite surfers than for paddle surfing. The only thing worth mentioning is that glassy morning on the 14th of July, and even then, keep your expectations on the floor.

Rusty.

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