Houghton Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Houghton Bay. It’s a bit of a rough start, so don’t be in a rush to grab your board just yet.

The first week is pretty much a write-off. We’ve got a big, windy, rainy mess for the first few days. That Sunday the 5th has a tiny bit of swell out of the east at 1 ft, but with a howling 19 mph offshore wind, it’s not going to be any fun. From Monday the 6th through to the end of the first week, it’s all onshore gales and heavy rain, with big, messy swell – we’re talking 18 ft on Thursday the 9th. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, it’s just a raging, blown-out ocean. The combined energy here is massive, hitting 5654 (strong to very strong wave energy), but it’s useless.

The whole first week and into the second is just a battle. Even when the swell drops a bit, the wind is still all wrong. The water temp is sitting at 54°, which is right about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We finally get a bit of a breather around Tuesday the 14th. The wind swings offshore from the north, but the swell is tiny – only 3 ft. It’s clean, but you’ll be fighting for scraps. The energy is weak (182). The same goes for the next few days; glassy conditions on the 17th but with 1 ft of swell, it’s a flat spell.

Now, the only real standout in this whole 16-day window is the weekend of the 18th and 19th of July. A new south swell fills in, and the wind finally plays ball. Saturday the 18th morning sees 6 ft swell from the south with a clean cross-offshore wind, and by the afternoon it’s a fresh 19 mph offshore wind with 6 ft swell from the south. The energy is moderate (601 to 630). This is the best it’s going to get. It’s a bit much for beginners, but for intermediates and up, it’s worth a paddle. The waves will be a bit short-period (9-10 seconds), so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but it’s rideable. Expect crowds to be possible, as it’s the only decent window.

Sunday the 19th afternoon is the real gem. The wind drops to a gentle 9 mph offshore, and you’ve got 5 ft swell from the south. The report says “expect good surf conditions” – that’s the one to aim for. The energy is moderate (245). It’s still a bit short-period (6 seconds), so it’ll be a bit fat, but the offshore wind will keep it clean.

After that, the swell fades fast into Monday the 20th, with small, ordinary waves again.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a total loss. The second week is mostly small and clean, but really only the 18th and 19th of July have any real punch. The standout is definitely Sunday the 19th afternoon. Don’t get your hopes up for anything before that.

Rusty.

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