Houghton Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, lookin' at the next 16 days... it's a bit of a mixed bag for Houghton Bay, and honestly, it starts off pretty grim. The good news is there's a light at the end of the tunnel, but we've got to be patient.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 56°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing crazy, just a little bit of extra comfort.

The whole first week is a write-off, basically. From Wednesday the 2nd right through to the morning of Thursday the 10th, it's just a long, flat, and windy slog. The swell is tiny, the wind is howling from the north at 25 mph, making it messy and blown out. This break is *inconsistent* at the best of times, and for these days, there's absolutely nothing worth paddling out for. The combined energy is weak, barely cracking 100 (like 39 to 86) for most of that stretch. It's a real rough patch.

Now, the first real standout is a bit of a beauty, but it's a week and a half away. On Friday, September 11th, the morning session is looking excellent. We've got a solid 12 ft of swell rolling in from the SSW, with a moderate energy level (2252). The wind is dead calm – glassy conditions – and the waves are clean. This is a big one though, at 12 ft. That's expert territory, not for the faint-hearted. The longer period (9 seconds) means there's some decent shape to it, but those sets will be packing a punch.

The real highlight, and the one I'd be circling on the calendar, is the morning of Tuesday, September 15th. We get a nice 6 ft swell from the SSW, and the wind is blowing offshore from the N at 12 mph. That's a clean, well-shaped wave. The combined energy is moderate (358), and that offshore wind will be grooming the faces perfectly. It's a bit more manageable size for the intermediate crew, too. The swell direction is a great match for the spot's optimum. It's still a beach and reef setup, so keep an eye on the tide, but this is the best all-rounder in the window.

The afternoon of the 15th has a bit of pulse too, with 5 ft and offshore wind, but it's a bit weaker and not as clean. Then we fade out into the 16th and 17th with small, long-period swell and strong offshore winds, which is more of a wait-and-see.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a total dud. The only real game in town is the morning of the 11th for the big-wave crew, and the morning of the 15th for the best all-round, clean surf. Overall, it's a long wait for a couple of short windows.

Rusty.

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