Icelands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got one spot in the crosshairs, and it’s going to be a bit of a slow burner, but there are some absolute crackers waiting for us if we’re patient.

Right now, the surf is messy. For the rest of this week, we’ve got a solid 5ft to 6ft of SSE swell rolling in, but the wind is a stubborn cross-offshore from the SE at 16 mph, which is just wrecking the shape. The water is a warm 86°F, running about 2°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s a touch toastier than normal. The wave energy is moderate (646 to 895), but it’s just not coming together. You’ll be fighting the wind chop for a sloppy, lumpy ride. Honestly, it’s more likely to blow you off your board than give you a good wave.

We finally get a reprieve on Sunday the 26th. The wind drops right out, going glassy by the afternoon with a light breath from the SSE at 3 mph. The swell eases to a cleaner 4ft to 5ft from the SSE, with a period of 9 to 10 seconds. That’s a fun, manageable size. The wave energy is still moderate (500 to 538), but the clean conditions will make it feel twice as good. This is the first real window for a decent session, but it’s not the standout.

The real magic starts to brew as we head into the end of the month and the first week of August. Thursday the 30th kicks off a serious run of groundswell. We’re looking at a 19-second period SSW swell building to 3ft, with a very clean offshore breeze from the east at 6 mph. The wave energy is pumping at 845. By the afternoon it’s glassy, and the swell is up to 4ft with an 18-second period. This is proper, long-period energy.

Then Friday the 31st of July is the one to circle on the calendar. The morning looks clean with offshores, but the afternoon is where it gets special. That SSW swell (4ft, 16 seconds) hits with a glassy sea and a combined energy of 1197. That’s strong wave energy. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The swell direction is perfect for the Icelands reef, which loves a solid SSW pulse. Expect long lines, deep barrels, and not much crowd pressure just yet.

Saturday the 1st of August is another banger. Glassy conditions all day with a 5ft, 17-second SSW groundswell in the morning (energy at 1452) and a solid 5ft in the afternoon. This is expert territory—over 5ft, it’s pushing it for beginners, and this is pure, powerful reef-break action. The sets will be long and fat, perfect for a point or reef setup like this.

We’ve got a bit of a tricky spell from Monday the 3rd into Wednesday the 5th, where the wind swings cross-on from the NW, creating some ripples on the surface. The swell is still pumping (5ft to 5ft, 14-15 seconds), but the quality dips. It’s still a big surf, but the wind will make it a bit of a battle.

The final standout is Tuesday the 4th of August. Glassy morning, 5ft SSW swell, 16-second period, and the energy is a massive 1748. That’s very strong wave energy. Again, this is for the experienced crew only. The afternoon holds at 5ft with similar energy. If you’re an advanced surfer, this is the best window of the whole forecast.

The week of the 5th and 6th sees the swell dip a little, and the wind gets messy again, but by Friday the 7th of August, we get another glassy morning with a clean 5ft SSW swell at 16 seconds. The conditions are excellent, but the wind is a bit fickle in the afternoon.

So, look. The first few days are a write-off. Wait for Sunday the 26th for a clean, fun session, but the real gold is the last few days of July and the first couple of days of August. The 31st of July afternoon and the 1st of August are the true standouts—clean, powerful, and glassy. Get out there.

Rusty.

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