Impossibles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get into it.

We’ve got a solid run of swell coming our way at Impossibles. This is a reef break, and it’s a heavy one – advanced only, and very consistent. The water temp is sitting at 78°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The action kicks off Thursday morning, August 13th. We’re looking at an 8ft SSW groundswell with a 17-second period, pushing a massive amount of energy (3965). That’s proper strong. The wind is a clean offshore ESE breeze at 16 mph. This is a serious setup, but the tide might be a bit tricky, so don’t expect perfection. It’s more of a warm-up for what’s to come. The afternoon picks up to 10ft, still from the SSW, period 16 seconds, and the energy is even bigger (4103). The wind stays offshore, and the conditions are looking excellent for the experienced crew. This is a big, powerful wave.

Friday morning, August 14th, the swell eases slightly to 7ft SSW, but the period is still a solid 16 seconds. The energy is still strong (2956) and the wind is offshore. This is a classic, clean morning. The afternoon sees the wind go cross-offshore, which takes a bit of the shine off, but it’s still rideable.

Saturday and Sunday, August 15th and 16th, we see a gentle breeze holding offshore in the mornings, with the swell holding steady around 7ft and a 17-second period. The energy remains in the very strong range (2929 and 2257). The afternoons get a bit of a cross-offshore wind, but the mornings are where it’s at.

Now, Monday the 17th, the swell drops a bit to 5ft, but the wind is still offshore, and the wave quality is still good. The energy is moderate (1085). It’s a fun, clean day.

The standout window is from Tuesday, August 18th, through to Saturday, August 22nd. This is the heart of the run. The swell stays solid, the wind is consistently offshore, and the energy is pumping. Thursday, August 20th, is the biggest day of the stretch, with the morning showing 10ft SSW swell, 16-second period, and an incredible 4071 in the combined energy. The wind is a clean 12 mph offshore. This is expert territory, and it’s going to be firing. The afternoon on the 20th is still excellent, with 8ft from the SW. Friday the 21st holds strong, but the afternoon sees a fresher 19 mph wind, which might make things a bit lumpy.

The energy starts to taper off a bit from Sunday, August 23rd, but the swell is still in the 5ft to 7ft range, and the wind remains offshore. The combined energy is still moderate to strong (1488 down to 1122). It’s still good, clean surf for the experienced.

The last week of the forecast, from Monday, August 24th, to Friday, August 28th, the swell size drops and the period shortens. The mornings are still clean with offshore winds, but the wave heights are mostly in the 4ft to 6ft range. The energy is moderate (down to 968 for a bit). The period on the 26th jumps back to 18 seconds, which is a very long period groundswell, but with only 4ft of swell, it might be a bit straight and tricky for a reef break. The wind is still good, but the power is definitely fading. The final Friday afternoon, the 28th, sees the wind go cross-offshore, and the conditions become marginal.

The standout: Without a doubt, Thursday, August 20th, morning. That 10ft SSW groundswell, with the 16-second period, clean offshore wind, and the massive energy reading (4071) is the pick of the whole 16 days. It’s dangerous, it’s powerful, and it’s for experts only. If you’re good enough, that’s the session.

Rusty.

Read more