Icelands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down the same forecast, but in feet and knots.

The first few days at Icelands aren’t screaming for a paddle. A moderate SSE swell is wrapping in, around 5 to 6 feet, with a fresh cross-offshore breeze keeping the surface clean. The energy is decent (752), but the swell is coming from the SSE, not the ideal SSW, so the shape isn’t dialed in. It’s not bad, but it’s not the good stuff.

By Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th, the swell drops to around 3 to 4 feet, with a period of 9 to 10 seconds. The wind lays down nicely, turning light and cross-off, even glassy on Tuesday morning the 28th. For a couple of days, the surf is small but clean. On Tuesday the 28th, we get a glassy 2-foot swell from SSW with a long 16-second period, and the energy is moderate (392). It’s tidy, but small.

Now, the real fun starts on Thursday the 30th. The swell swings to the SSW – the right direction for this reef – and the period gets serious. Thursday morning the 30th shows 3 feet at 19 seconds from SSW, a proper groundswell. The energy is 941 (moderate), and the wind is light and cross-offshore. The water is 86°F, about 2°F above normal, so it’s unseasonably warm.

The standout window is Friday the 31st through Sunday the 3rd of August. Friday afternoon the 31st has 4 feet SSW at 16 seconds, clean, with strong wave energy (1187). Saturday the 1st of August is a gem: 5 feet SSW at 18 seconds, glassy in the morning, and energy at 1388. This is the best on offer – clean, solid, and aimed right at the reef. Sunday the 2nd of August stays glassy with 4 feet SSW at 16 seconds. This is prime time for experienced surfers. The long period means powerful, well-shaped waves. The crowds are “often” here, so don’t expect to be alone.

After that, the swell gets bigger but messier. Monday the 3rd of August pushes 6 feet SSW, but the wind turns cross to cross-on, and the quality drops. The following days stay in the 5 to 5-foot range, but winds from the north and northwest make it choppy.

Then, on Thursday the 6th of August, it cleans up again with a light cross-off breeze and a 5 to 6-foot SSW swell at 17 seconds. The energy is very strong (2706). Friday the 7th of August sees a massive spike: 8 to 10 feet S swell at 19 to 20 seconds, with energy through the roof (6994). This is serious, powerful swell – only for experts. The wind is a bit messy, but Saturday the 8th of August looks cleaner with 8 feet S swell at 18 seconds, glassy, and clean, with very strong energy (4648). That’s a big, powerful, clean swell for the confident crew.

The real standout is the stretch from Saturday the 1st of August to Sunday the 2nd of August – glassy, clean, consistent SSW swell, and the kind of waves that make you forget the slow start. The reef will handle the long-period groundswell perfectly.

Rusty out.

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