Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this out there. The next couple of weeks are going to test your patience, that’s for sure. We’ve got a long stretch of small, junky surf ahead before things finally start to turn on. The first real opportunity doesn’t show up until Sunday the 17th, so we’re looking at a solid six-day wait from today. Don’t get too excited though, because even then it’s just the start of something better.

Right now, through Saturday the 16th, it’s all about tiny, weak waves. We’re talking knee-high slop at best, with the swell energy barely registering – mostly in the 14 to 88 range. The wind is all over the place, with a lot of cross-onshore and choppy conditions. There’s a brief window Friday morning with clean conditions, but there’s just no power behind it. The swell is only 2ft with a short period, so it’s really not worth the paddle. Early on, the water temp at Jetty-4 is 76°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the water feels good even if the waves don’t.

Finally, on Sunday the 17th, things start to shift. The wind goes offshore from the NNW, and the swell starts to fill in. The morning is still pretty ordinary, but by the afternoon, the swell drops in from the SSW at 5ft with a period of 7 seconds. The wave energy jumps into the 300s, which tells you there’s some proper push behind it. The winds are light and offshore, so it should be glassy and clean. This is the first real standout of the period. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and surfable.

Monday the 18th and Tuesday the 19th are a bit of a letdown. The swell swings around to the SE, but the period gets long, reaching 15 seconds on Monday. That’s a long-period groundswell, which can be a bit tricky for a break like Jetty (Margate, UK). It tends to make beach breaks section off and close out. The wind is also cross-onshore and choppy, so it’s not going to be a pretty sight.

We’ve got another wait until Saturday the 22nd. The swell is still from the SE, but the period drops back to a more manageable 6 seconds. The wind swings offshore from the NNW at 19 mph, which will definitely clean it up. The energy is moderate, around 103, with a 3ft swell. It’s a big step up from the previous days, but it’s still not the best. The morning looks like the call with that fresh offshore wind before it eases in the afternoon.

Looking into the second week, it’s all a bit more of the same. Sunday the 23rd has a little bit of energy with a clean morning, but it’s nothing to write home about. Then we fade back into small, weak surf. There’s a tiny window on Monday the 24th with glassy conditions in the morning, but the swell is small and weak. After that, it all goes flat and choppy again through the 25th.

So, the standout is definitely the Sunday the 17th afternoon. That’s the one to be out for. The Saturday the 22nd morning is a decent backup, but the rest of the period is mostly a grind. Keep your expectations low, and you won’t be disappointed.

Rusty

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