Icelands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get stuck into the outlook for Icelands.

First up, we’ve got a long period SSW groundswell running. The water’s sitting at a warm 85°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The energy is moderate at 876 on the Monday morning, building through the week.

The first few days, from Monday the 3rd of August through to the weekend, are a bit of a write-off for a decent paddle. There’s swell on the cards, but the wind is a mess. We’ve got strong cross-shore winds, plenty of stormy weather, and the reports are all saying marginal. The swell is in the 4ft to 5ft range with that lovely long 15 to 16 second period, but it’s getting chopped up. On Thursday the 6th, the swell is pushing 6ft with a 17-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 2374, which is strong, but that onshore wind kills it. This is one of those weeks where the setup really looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Hold on though. It all changes on Sunday the 9th of August. That’s when Icelands starts to deliver. The wind swings light offshore from the east, the swell is still a solid 6ft from the south, and the period is a long 16 seconds (groundswell). The energy is high at 1674, and the description says clean. This is a standout window. From Sunday afternoon through Monday the 10th, the conditions are clean, with light offshore or cross-offshore winds. The swell holds around 5ft to 6ft. This is excellent for experienced surfers.

The real highlight, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the run from Wednesday the 13th through to Sunday the 16th. The winds are light, often glassy or cross-offshore. The swell is a consistent 5ft to 6ft from the south-southwest, with periods of 15 to 17 seconds. The energy is strong, hitting 2164 on Friday the 14th. It’s pointing straight in. The reports say “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers” and “glassy.” This is the best of the entire forecast. The crowd profile at Icelands says “often,” so expect company, but for those waves, it’s worth it. Remember, this is a reef break, so it will handle that long-period groundswell beautifully.

The last few days into the 18th of August see the swell drop back to 5ft, but the winds stay light, so there’s still a fun wave on offer.

Rusty.

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