Icelands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Icelands. This is a solid reef setup that’s exposed to the south-west swells, and it’s about to get a good run of energy. The water temp is sitting pretty average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there – just standard tropical warmth.

The pattern kicks off on Sunday the 23rd of August, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a solid 6 ft swell from the south, with a period of 14 seconds, pushing a heap of energy into the reef (1659). The problem is the wind is a cross-off from the SSE at 16 mph, which is holding things together but making it a bit bumpy. It’s a marginal session, best left for the experienced crew.

Monday the 24th is much the same story – a bit of a drop in size but still a good 5 ft from the SSW on Monday afternoon, with a long 16-second period. The wind is still cross-off, so it’s clean enough, but the quality is just okay. Not a standout.

The real magic starts to build on Tuesday the 25th of August. Tuesday morning sees a 5 ft SSW swell, period 15 seconds, and the wind drops right back to a light 6 mph cross-off. That’s clean, lined-up surf for experienced surfers. The energy is still solid (1112), and the reef will be handling that long period groundswell beautifully. This is the first true highlight.

Wednesday the 26th of August will be a treat for the early birds. The wind goes glassy in the morning – dead calm – with a 4 ft SSW swell at 13 seconds. That’s about as clean as it gets. The energy is moderate (705), but the conditions are perfect. Later in the day, the wind picks up a touch to a light cross-off, still very clean.

But the absolute standout of the whole outlook is Thursday the 27th of August. Thursday morning, the wind is completely glassy, zero wind, and the swell is a 4 ft SSW groundswell with a massive 19-second period. The energy is pumping (1734). This is a long-period, clean, glassy reef session that will be a dream for anyone who knows what they’re doing. The period is so long, the sets will be widely spaced, but the waves will be proper and powerful. This is your best bet.

Friday the 28th holds a clean 6 ft SSW swell in the morning, with a 16-second period and light cross-off winds. Another solid day for the experienced crowd. The afternoon sees a drop to 5 ft, but still excellent.

The weekend of the 30th and 31st of August, we see a bit of a dip in size on Sunday the 30th (2 ft to 3 ft), but the period is still very long (20-21 seconds), keeping the energy interesting. Monday the 31st of August, the swell picks back up to 5 ft to 6 ft, and the wind is light cross-off. This is a quality run.

Looking ahead to the first week of September, there’s a proper pulse on the way. Tuesday the 1st of September sees a 7 ft SW swell with a 17-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off. The energy is strong (2647). This is big, powerful groundswell – only for experts. The reef will handle it, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. Wednesday the 2nd of September holds a similar 6 ft to 7 ft SW swell, still excellent.

After that, the swell gradually eases through the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of September, with the wind staying mostly cross-off. The energy drops off, but it remains clean and rideable.

The final few days – the 6th and 7th of September – see the wind picking up to a moderate 12 to 16 mph cross-off, and the swell sits around 4 ft to 5 ft. The energy is moderate, but the breeze starts to spoil the surface a bit. It’s still surfable, but not as crisp as the earlier days.

Best on offer: Thursday the 27th of August – glassy, 4 ft, 19-second SSW groundswell. That’s the one to circle. And if you want size, Tuesday the 1st of September with 7 ft SW swell is a close second, though that’s for the experts.

Rusty.

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