Houghton Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s take a look at what Houghton Bay is throwing at us. It’s a bit of a slow start, but there’s a real barnstormer of a session if you’ve got the skills.

The first few days are pretty flat and ugly. Wednesday the 9th has a tiny 2 feet ESE swell with a short 8-second period, and while the morning is clean with a light offshore, the afternoon turns into a fresh 19 mph offshore that’s too strong for any fun. Thursday the 10th is a total washout with a tiny 0.7 feet SSW swell and a messy cross-onshore wind. That’s a tough go.

Things perk up on Friday the 11th. We’ve got a 2 feet SSW groundswell, but with a very long 18-second period. The wind is fresh offshore from the NNW, so it’ll be glassy. The combined energy is weak (283), but the long period means the waves will have shape and some punch, though the sets will be widely spaced. Not a standout, but a solid session for the patient surfer.

Now, Saturday the 12th afternoon is the day. The swell jumps to a solid 10 feet from the S with a 12-second period, and the wind goes light offshore from the NNW. The combined energy is massive at 4169, so there’s a ton of power. This is excellent surf, but only for the experienced crew – 10 feet is big, and the beach-and-reef setup at Houghton Bay can get heavy. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual.

Sunday the 13th drops off. The morning still has a 10 feet SSW swell, but the wind is a gentle cross-onshore, making it choppy. The energy is huge (5077), but the quality is questionable. The afternoon sees the swell drop to 8 feet, still with cross-onshore winds. Not the best.

Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th offer cleaner conditions with moderate offshore winds, but the swell size drops steadily from 6 feet to 4 feet. The energy is moderate to weak. The long-period groundswells have a better shape, but it’s not the thrill of the weekend.

The second week is a wild ride. From Wednesday the 16th through to Monday the 21st, it’s mostly poor. Strong winds, cross-offshore directions, and onshore winds make for messy, blown-out conditions. The energy is mostly moderate, but the quality is low. Not worth paddling out for.

Then, on Tuesday the 22nd, we get a massive 13 feet S swell with a 12-second period. The wind is strong offshore from the N (25 mph), and the combined energy is a massive 3647. This is big, powerful, and clean. However, the strong offshore wind will make it a battle to get out the back, and the size is only for experts. The afternoon sees a 7 feet SSW swell, but the wind is near gale force (31 mph) offshore, making it near impossible to paddle into.

The final days from Wednesday the 23rd into Thursday the 24th fade away with weak swells and cross-onshore winds.

So, the standout is hands-down Saturday the 12th afternoon. The 10 feet S swell with a light offshore wind and that massive energy (4169) is the best on offer. It’s a powerful, clean session for the experienced crew. Keep an eye on Tuesday the 22nd for the truly big-wave hunters, but the wind will be a real factor.

Rusty.

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