Lake Ferry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for the Lake Ferry sandbar. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag ahead, but there are definitely some windows of opportunity if you know what you’re looking for. The first real action kicks off on Monday morning, the 24th of August.

Monday morning, the 24th, we’re looking at a solid start. The swell is a chunky 8ft from the SSW, with a period of 13 seconds. That’s a decent groundswell with some real grunt behind it – the combined energy is sitting at 2041 (moderate to strong). The wind is a gentle 9 mph from the N, blowing straight offshore, so the surf will be clean and lined up. This is proper stuff for experienced surfers only; it’s got plenty of power. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary. The afternoon cleans up with a 7ft SSW swell, but the wind swings NNW at 12 mph and goes cross-offshore, which takes the edge off the perfection.

Tuesday morning, the 25th, the swell drops back to 4ft from the SSW, but the wind is a stiff 19 mph from the NW and cross-off, making it hard to get a good clean face. Not your best bet.

Wednesday morning, the 26th is tiny at 4ft and the wind is still cross-off. Nothing to write home about.

The real standout in the first week is Thursday morning, the 27th of August. This is the one. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell with stacks of energy – the combined energy is a massive 2880 (strong). The wind is a light 6 mph from the NNW, just a gentle cross-off, keeping it clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers. The long period means it’ll hold up well on the sandbar, but you’ll need to be on your game for the bigger sets. The crowds can be around *sometimes*, so you might not have it all to yourself.

Friday morning, the 28th, has a cleaner 4ft S swell with a 9 mph N offshore wind, making for a pleasant morning session. The afternoon gets a bit of light rain, but the wind stays offshore.

Saturday afternoon, the 30th, is a wildcard: the swell is only 3ft from the SSE, but the wind goes completely glassy at 3 mph from the N. That’s a rare treat for the lake, and anyone on a longboard or a funboard will have a glassy, fun little wave.

Looking further ahead, the second week has some big energy but is tricky.

Monday morning, the 31st of August, we get a 6ft SSW swell, but the wind is a light cross-onshore from the S, making it a bit bumpy. Not ideal.

Tuesday morning, the 1st of September, is a solid 5ft SSW swell with a 9 mph N offshore wind – clean and a good option for experienced paddlers.

Wednesday, the 2nd of September, sees a jump in size to 8ft from the SSW, but the wind is onshore from the S and SE, making it a choppy mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day.

The big one to look out for is Friday morning, the 4th of September. The swell is forecast to be a massive 15ft from the SSW with a 17-second period and a combined energy of 10951 (very strong). The wind is a light 6 mph offshore from the NNE. That is a huge, powerful swell. For this break, it’s likely too big and dangerous for even experienced surfers. The wind and tide would be favorable, but the size makes it a no-go for safety. The afternoon is just as big.

Saturday, the 5th of September, drops back to 8ft from the S with a moderate cross-off wind. It’s cleaner but still a handful.

After that, the swell fades away into the second week, with small, messy conditions from the 6th through the 8th. There’s a gap of poor or small surf from the afternoon of the 5th all the way through to the end of the forecast on the 8th.

So, to wrap it up: Thursday morning, the 27th of August is the clear winner in the first week – big, clean, and powerful. Keep an eye on Friday morning, the 4th of September, but only from the safety of the shore. It’s a monster.

Stay safe out there.
Rusty.

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