Jacks Hole Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks at Jacks Hole. I gotta be straight with you – this stretch is looking pretty bleak. The first week and a half is basically a write-off, and the only real hope is a pulse of swell around the second Monday, but even that comes with a big question mark.

We start off with a real nothing burger. From Friday the 28th of August all the way through to Sunday the 6th of September, the surf is just tiny or non-existent. We’re talking ankle-snappers at best, with wave heights barely scraping 0.3m to 0.8m (that’s 1 to 3 ft). The wind is all over the shop – cross-off, onshore, cross – and the energy in the water is pathetic. The combined swell energy is often in the single digits or low tens (e.g., 9, 12, 29), which is just weak. The only good news is that the water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 63°F, but that’s about the only positive. It’s pretty much a solid 10-day gap with nothing worth paddling out for.

Now, after that long, flat spell, we finally get a little flicker of life. On Monday the 7th of September, the swell suddenly jumps up. Monday morning sees a 1.6m (5 ft) S swell rolling in, with a 6-second period. The combined energy hits 157, which is solid moderate energy. The wind is light offshore from the WSW, so it'll be clean. That’s our best option for the whole forecast. The afternoon then gets a bit bigger – 2.0m (7 ft) from the S with a 7-second period, and energy pumping up to 366. The wind swings cross-off, so it’s still clean. At 2.0m, this is getting into expert territory, but if you’re up for a challenge, there’ll be some powerful lines.

Tuesday the 8th of September is a bit of a letdown. The morning is flat again, but the afternoon sees a 0.5m (2 ft) S swell with a very long 12-second period, and energy of 141. That long period is a groundswell, which is good for shape, but a 0.5m wave at a reef break is just a knee-high dribbler. The fresh cross-off wind will keep it clean, but there’s just not enough size.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums for the rest of the forecast. The 9th and 10th are tiny or poor, and by the 11th and 12th of September, we’ve got onshore winds and rain, making it a complete mess. The swell direction is off, the wind is cross or cross-on, and the energy is back down in the dumps. Honestly, even for a dedicated crew, it’s a tough stretch.

So, the standout is without a doubt Monday the 7th of September. That's the only day with real size and clean conditions. Don’t get your hopes up for the rest.

Rusty.

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