Houghton Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Gather 'round, crew. Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at the next couple of weeks for Houghton Bay. It's a beach and reef setup down here, and it's one of those spots that can turn it on, but it's also a bit of a teaser—inconsistent, so you gotta pick your moments.

The immediate outlook is a mixed bag, but we've got a solid window of clean, manageable surf kicking off this Thursday afternoon, the 6th. The water's sitting at about 55°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

Thursday afternoon, the 6th, is where it's at to start. We've got a 5ft swell from the southeast, with a period of 10 seconds, and a light NNW wind is blowing offshore. The conditions are glassy and clean. The combined energy is moderate (781), so there's enough push to have some fun. This is the best start to the period.

Friday the 7th is a write-off. The swell jumps to 5ft, and then 6ft in the afternoon, from the south, with a very long period of 15 seconds, which is proper groundswell. But the wind is howling at 22 mph from the NNW, turning it into a messy cross-offshore breeze. The energy is strong (1452 and 1431), but it's a battle. Don't bother.

Saturday the 8th sees the swell drop back to 5ft and 4ft, with a fresh offshore wind from the NNW. It's clean, but the energy is moderate (607 and 411), and the quality is marginal. You could have a paddle, but it's not a standout.

Sunday the 9th is a no-go. Strong offshore winds at 28 mph and 25 mph, with a weak swell (248 and 167 energy). It's clean but impossible to paddle into. The wind is too strong.

Monday the 10th is a big tease. The swell is tiny at 3ft, but the wind goes glassy in the morning from the SSE. The energy is weak (137). It's a perfect morning for a longboard if you're desperate, but it's not surf.

Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th are similar. Small, cross-shore or moderate offshore winds, with energy staying in the low to moderate range (254 to 164). Nothing to get excited about.

Then we hit a dead zone. From Thursday the 13th through to Saturday the 15th, the swell drops to almost nothing, with energy readings in the tens and twenties. There's a brief moment on Friday the 14th with a very long period 16-second swell, but it's only 0.7ft. A glassy morning on the 14th, but there's no wave to ride. This is a proper gap of poor conditions.

Now, hold on to your boards, because the second week gets interesting, but it's for the brave. Sunday the 16th sees a massive spike in energy. The morning has a 18ft swell from the SSW, but the wind is a strong cross-offshore from the NW, keeping it clean but very raw. The energy is a massive 5629. This is a serious, powerful swell. The afternoon sees a 16ft swell with a cross-onshore wind, making it choppy but still packing 6162 energy. This is big, expert-only territory.

Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th are dominated by a strong, onshore wind from the SSE, with 13ft to 15ft swells. The energy is through the roof (over 5000), but the wind is destroying it. It's a messy, lumpy, onshore mess. This looks more like a kitesurfing setup than a paddle session.

Wednesday the 19th is a slight improvement. A 15ft swell from the SSE, with a gentle cross-onshore wind. The energy is massive (6657), but it's still fairly choppy. Only for the most experienced.

The real standout, and the one to circle on your calendar, is Thursday the 20th. The wind goes glassy in the morning, from the SW, swinging offshore. The swell is still a solid 10ft from the south (energy 3153). This is clean, powerful, and for experienced surfers only. The afternoon sees an 8ft swell from the south, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNW. This is the best, most manageable day of the entire window. The energy is still strong (1314), but the conditions are clean.

Friday the 21st is a return to smaller, cleaner conditions with a 4ft and 5ft southeast swell, and a fresh offshore wind. A good way to finish the run.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a slow burn with a few clean, small windows, but the real action is in the second week. The standout is Thursday the 20th, with a glassy morning and a clean, powerful 10ft swell. The Sunday the 16th is a pulse of extreme energy, but it's wild. For the average surfer, wait for the 20th.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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