Icelands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Icelands. This is a proper reef break that’s open to a south-southwest swell, and that’s exactly what we’ve got stacked up. Water temp is about 85°F, right on the money for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.

So the whole 16-day window is basically one long south-southwest groundswell train. The energy is strong right out of the gate, drops a bit in the middle of the week, then comes roaring back for the second week. The wind is mostly cross-off, so it’s going to be clean a lot of the time, but this spot is for experienced surfers only—when the waves are running over 5 feet with that kind of period, it’s not beginner territory.

Thursday the 20th starts us off with a solid 8ft south-southwest swell, a 16-second period, and a ton of energy—2754 in the tank. The wind is a clean cross-off, so the lines should be looking sharp. The tide’s a bit tricky, but it’s a decent start. Friday the 21st morning drops to 6ft but the period holds, energy still high at 2279. Same clean wind. Friday afternoon drops to 6ft and the forecast calls it excellent for experienced surfers. That’s your first real standout—clean, solid, and the swell direction is exactly what this break wants.

Saturday the 22nd bumps back to 7ft in the morning with a 16-second period and 2261 energy. If you’re fit and experienced, that’s a big session. The afternoon gets a cross wind and the quality drops. Sunday the 23rd runs 5ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon, still clean, decent board time. Early next week from Monday the 24th through Wednesday the 26th, the swell backs off—we’re looking at 4ft to 6ft, energy drops from 1674 down to 553. It’s clean in the mornings but the afternoons get a cross wind and go marginal. A quiet patch.

Now here’s the good stuff. Thursday the 27th morning brings a 4ft swell with a massive 19-second period—that’s very long-period groundswell. Energy jumps to 1382, light cross-off wind, and the report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. On a reef, that long period will push in with real power, but you’ll be waiting between sets. That afternoon goes to 5ft, 18 seconds, and 1844 energy. Friday the 28th delivers a consistent 5ft, 15-second period, 1548 energy, clean both morning and afternoon, and both are rated excellent. That’s a great run.

The real standout, the one you want to circle on the calendar, is Monday the 31st of August into September. Monday morning is only 4ft but has a 20-second period and 1911 energy—proper groundswell pulse. Monday afternoon jumps to 6ft, 19 seconds, and a huge 2598 energy with light clean wind. That afternoon is excellent for experienced surfers. Tuesday the 1st of September is even bigger: 7ft, 18-second period, and 2745 energy in the morning with light cross-off wind. That’s a proper, powerful, clean day. Then Wednesday the 2nd of September morning is glass—flat calm wind, 7ft, 16-second period, and 2193 energy. Perfect reef conditions, clean as a whistle. That stretch from Monday the 31st through Wednesday the 2nd is the best of the whole window.

After that, Thursday the 3rd drops to 6ft, cross wind and chop, not worth rushing. But Friday the 4th of September morning is glass again—5ft, a 20-second period, and 2058 energy. Clean as glass. The afternoon sits at 5ft with a 19-second period and 2410 energy, still clean. That’s a lovely way to finish the window. A few flat-ish days sit between the standouts, but overall, this reef is going to fire at least a couple of times. Keep your eye on the end of August and that glassy Wednesday morning in early September.

Rusty.

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