Jacks Hole Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, this is a tough run. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but honestly, there’s not a single day that’s truly firing for a proper paddle session. The first real chance of any surf doesn’t show up until the 4th of September, but even then, it’s tiny and weak. Let’s break it down, but keep your expectations in check.

The overall pattern is one of very small, inconsistent swell with onshore or cross-off winds most of the time. The water temp is sitting at 63°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least it won’t be freezing while you’re sitting out there waiting for something to ride.

We start on Friday morning, the 4th of September, at Jacks Hole. It’s a reef break, advanced only, and it’s fairly consistent but only fairly exposed. We’ve got a tiny 1.0ft swell from the south, with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 10 – barely a ripple. The wind is a fresh offshore from the WSW at 19 mph, so the surface will be clean, but there’s just nothing to push you around. The afternoon is much the same: 1ft, still from the south, period still 6 seconds, energy up to a whopping 14. Still a poor surf call.

Saturday the 5th is even worse. Morning sees a 0.3ft groundswell from the south with a long 14-second period, but the energy is just 10. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’s clean, but you’d be fighting for a ripple. Afternoon goes to a 2ft wave with a 3-second period – that’s windswell slop, and a cross-shore wind at 16 mph makes it choppy. Not worth it.

Sunday the 6th is the closest we get to anything interesting, but it’s still a hard pass for me. We see a 4ft swell from the south on the morning, period 5 seconds, energy 57. The wind is a fresh cross-off at 22 mph, so it’s clean. The afternoon bumps up to 4ft from the same direction, with 94 energy. That’s moderate energy, but the period is still short (5 seconds), meaning it’s a weak, crumbly wave. For a reef break, that’s not going to peel well. It’s big enough for a strong paddle, but the quality is poor. This is the only window where the swell gets over 5ft, so it’s too big for beginners, but not good enough for experts.

After that, it’s a total wipeout. From Monday the 7th right through to the 19th of September, we’re looking at wave heights mostly under 2ft, with long periods of flat spells (energy of 0). There are a few glassy moments, like the 12th and 13th of September, where the wind is completely calm, but there’s no swell. A glassy flat ocean is a beautiful thing to look at, but it’s not for surfing.

To sum it up: the best on offer is the Sunday the 6th, with that 4ft south swell. Even then, the short period and poor surf conditions mean it’s not a standout. It’s a day for the dedicated, not the joyful. For the rest of the 16 days, you’re better off checking the forecast again later. Sometimes it’s just like this – a blank run. Forecasts can change, so don’t throw your board in the bin yet.

Rusty.

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