Jacks Hole Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Jacks Hole over the next couple of weeks. I’ve gotta be straight with you—this stretch looks like a real struggle. There’s nothing on the table that I’d call a standout; in fact, the whole 16-day window is pretty much a write-off. The first surf that’s even vaguely mentionable doesn’t pop up until Thursday, 3rd of September, and even that is a far cry from good.

We kick off from now, and for the first week and a half, it’s flat or near-flat. From Friday 21st August all the way through to Wednesday 3rd September, the swell heights barely lift a paddle. Most days you’re looking at 0.3ft to 2ft, with periods that are all over the shop—some as low as 4 seconds, a few long-period 14-15 second pulses, but no energy behind them. The combined energy is tiny, often just single digits or low double digits (4, 14, 27, 72), so there’s nothing pushing through. The wind is messy too—cross, onshore, cross-onshore—with chop and ripples. Even the few moments of clean, offshore wind don’t matter when there’s no swell to work with.

Now, the water temp is sitting at 64°F, and that anomaly is 4°F warmer than the long-term average for this time of year. That’s a touch warmer than normal, so if you’re getting in for a swim, it’s pleasant enough—but don’t bother bringing a board.

There is one tiny flicker of life: Thursday morning, 3rd of September, we get a bit of NNE swell pushing 4ft, period 5 seconds, with light offshore wind from the WNW. The combined energy bumps to 60 (weak to moderate), and the conditions are clean. By Thursday afternoon, it actually hits the highest energy in the whole outlook at 97 (weak to moderate again, just shy of decent), with swell at 4ft from the NNE, period still 5 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions”, and honestly, that’s the best we get. It’s small, short-period, and only any use if you’re desperate for a froth. This isn’t a beginner wave—at 4ft it’s okay for most, but the short period means it’s weak and a bit bouncy.

After that brief tease, from Friday 4th September it’s back to tiny 0.3ft slop with clean but empty lineups. The last entry on Saturday 5th Sept shows 0.3ft, 13-second period, and glassy conditions—but again, no swell.

So, honestly, there’s nothing to recommend here. If you’re attached to Jacks Hole (this is a reef break for advanced surfers, fairly consistent but not right now), you’ll be sitting this one out. The winds do turn offshore or glassy a few times late in the run, but with no swell, it’s a lake. This is one of those blank runs where the area just shuts down.

Rusty.

Read more