Hunting Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be straight with you—there isn’t much to get excited about on Hunting Island right now. We’ve got a run of tiny, weak, and mostly messy surf stretching from now through the first week of August, with a few glimmers of something slightly better further out. Patience is the name of the game.

Starting with the water temp: it’s sitting at about 87°, which is way above average for this time of year. That’s more than four and a half degrees warmer than usual, so expect bathwater conditions—nice for a swim, not helping the waves any.

For the period from July 26 right through to August 2, it’s pretty grim. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2 ft, coming from the ESE or S with short periods around 6 to 8 seconds, so no real push. On Sunday the 26th, we’ve got a light cross-onshore breeze and risk of thunderstorms, with combined wave energy of just 36—that’s weak. Monday the 27th starts clean and glassy early with a light offshore, but the swell is still 2 ft from the east. There’s no power there. Tuesday the 28th goes cross-shore and bumpy, and Wednesday the 29th actually sees some clean offshore wind from the WNW in the morning, but the swell drops to about 1 ft, energy barely 17. It’s not surfable, really. Thursday the 30th morning goes glassy but again the swell is just 0.7 ft. That’s a flat lake. Friday the 31st and Saturday August 1st see a slight bump up to about 3–3 ft from the south, but periods are 5 to 6 seconds and the wind is cross or cross-onshore, so it’s choppy. On Sunday August 2, the wind cranks up to 22–28 mph from the south with rain storms—completely blown out. The energy during that messy stretch gets up to 61 at best, barely moderate. Nothing worth paddling out for.

Then we finally see a shift on Monday August 3. The swell lifts to about 4 ft from the SSE, period only 6 seconds, but the wind turns cross-offshore and the surf is rated as surfable but very ordinary. Energy climbs to 90, so there’s finally a bit more movement. It’s not a standout, but if you’re desperate, that Monday morning might be your best window. Tuesday August 4 has a clean offshore from the west in the morning, but the swell drops back to about 2 ft, and the energy fades. Wednesday August 5 morning sees gentle offshore wind and about 2 ft from the SSE, again clean but still small. From there, the second week just tails off into tiny leftover swell, mostly under 2 ft, with periods of clean offshore wind on and off. Nothing builds into anything substantial.

So overall: the one period that’s even worth a look is Monday morning August 3, with the southeast swell just big enough to be surfable and the wind helping. But it’s not a standout for anyone but the most patient beginner. For the rest, the board stays in the car.

- Rusty

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