L Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for L Jetty.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 76°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing crazy, but you’ll notice it’s a little more comfortable than usual.

Right now, things are flat. The next 16 days kick off with a long stretch of nothing worth paddling out for. From Saturday the 8th all the way through to Monday the 18th, it’s a real dead zone. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, and the energy is weak – readings like 42, 15, or 14 (combined energy of all swells directed here) tell the story. There’s a few moments of glassy or offshore wind, like Sunday afternoon with a light NNW glassy wind, or Monday morning with ESE glassy, but there’s just no wave to ride. It’s frustrating because the conditions are clean, but the swell is a no-show.

Then we hit Wednesday the 19th afternoon, and things finally wake up. The swell jumps to 7ft from the SE, with a period of 6 seconds – that’s a short period, so it’s going to be a bit lumpy and crumbly. The energy hits 295 (moderate wave energy), and the wind is SW cross-off, keeping it clean. But at 7ft, this is getting into expert-only territory, especially with that short period. It’s not a beginner wave.

The best window in the whole outlook is Thursday the 20th. The morning brings 6ft from the ESE with an 8-second period, and the energy is a solid 608 (strong wave energy). The wind is ESE cross-on, so it’s not perfect, but it’s rideable. The afternoon sees a bump to 7ft from the E, still 8-second period, and energy at 624. That’s the biggest energy of the whole period. This is the standout. The swell direction (ESE) is a good match for what this break likes (optimum swell from ESE). The wind is cross, so it’s a bit messy, but for size and power, this is the best on offer. However, anything over 8ft is expert-only, and we’re at 7ft, so it’s still manageable for strong intermediates.

Friday the 21st drops off quick, with 4ft and energy down to 223, and the wind turns cross. After that, it’s back to small stuff through the 22nd and 23rd, with 2-2ft and energy dropping below 100.

Overall, the whole 16 days is a tough run. There’s a big gap of about 10 days with no real surf before the 19th. The only time it’s worth a look is the 19th-20th, and that Thursday the 20th is the best chance. Crowds are possible at L Jetty, but with the size and conditions, it might thin out a bit. No other breaks are worth mentioning.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecasts. The second week is a bit of a gamble, but that 20th looks promising.

Rusty

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