Lake Ferry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for us at Lake Ferry.

Straight up, we’ve got a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The start of the period is a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. Monday the 17th through Tuesday the 18th serve up big, raw, onshore-chopped-up slop. The combined energy reading is huge, up to 4906 (moderate to strong), but with the wind howling straight onshore at 19 mph, it’s just a mess. Not our day.

Wednesday the 19th actually has some proper size – we’re talking 13 ft swell from the S and 12 ft from the S – and the wind is light onshore, but the forecast notes it’s just too big for this sandbar setup. Unless you’re a true expert and like getting pounded, I’d give it a miss.

Now, Thursday the 20th is where we get our first real stand-out. It’s glassy – dead glassy – with a light 3 mph SW wind. The swell drops to a much more manageable 6 ft from the S, with a moderate 825 combined energy. The period is 12 seconds, which gives it some decent push and shape. This is your best bet for clean, fun waves in the near term. The water temp is 52°, which is a bit colder than normal for the time of year, so a thick wetsuit is a must. Crowds can pop up here sometimes, so get there early.

From there, things get dicey again. Friday the 21st through Monday the 24th is a stretch of clean but weak, marginal surf as the swell drops away and strong cross-offshore winds mess with the shape. The combined energy drops to as low as 39 (weak energy) on the 23rd. That’s a gap of several days where you’re really not missing much.

Looking ahead to the second week, there’s a promising but less certain window on Friday the 28th of August. The morning shows 6 ft from the SSW, with a 14-second period and a light 9 mph offshore wind from the N. Combined energy is a solid 1393 (moderate). The notes say it’s excellent for experienced surfers. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. Saturday the 29th also has some good fun-sized options, with 6 ft SSW and clean conditions, but the 28th is the pick.

The end of the month and into September looks on-and-off with average to poor conditions and building onshore wind again, so don’t get your hopes up for that last stretch.

So, bottom line: Thursday the 20th is your best early call for clean, glassy chest-to-head-high surf. And if you can wait, Friday the 28th of August morning looks like the pick of the longer range for a bigger, cleaner, offshore swell.

Stay salty.
- Rusty.

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