Lake Ferry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Lake Ferry. Gotta be straight with you – this stretch of lake is a tough nut to crack. We’re looking at a 16-day window, but it’s gonna be a long, slow burn before anything worthwhile shows up. For the first five days, it’s basically a write-off with poor surf conditions and strong, cross-off winds. The water temp is about 54°F with a tiny anomaly of 0.5°F, so just about average for this time of year.

Friday the 6th of September morning sees a bit of energy, with a 3ft SSW swell, but it’s messy and the wind is still a fresh breeze from the NW. Energy is moderate (286). Not a day to get excited about. The pattern of poor conditions stretches through the whole first week, with the wind staying onshore or cross-off and the swell staying small or blown out. There’s a glimmer of hope on Tuesday the 8th of September morning – the wind goes glassy, NE at 3 mph, and there’s a 4ft S swell. The energy is moderate (201) and the comment says “expect good surf conditions.” It’s a small window, but if you’re desperate, that’s your best bet early on. The real standout, though, is Wednesday the 9th of September morning. The wind is dead calm, glassy, with a 5ft S swell. The energy is moderate (234) and the forecast is for good surf. This is the cleanest, most promising window in the first week. The short period of 7 seconds means it’ll be a bit weaker, but with that glassy wind, it’ll be fun for the advanced crew.

Now, hold onto your board – the second week gets wild. Monday the 14th of September morning is a monster. We’re talking a 21ft S swell with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 20646. The wind is a moderate breeze from the SW, cross-onshore, and the guide says it’s “too big for this break.” This is for experts only, and honestly, with that size and onshore wind, it’s gonna be a washing machine. The period is long, so it’ll be a proper groundswell, but on a lake sandbar, it’s going to break straight and be a mess. For the average surfer, it’s a no-go. Tuesday the 15th of September morning offers a better chance: a 8ft S swell with a 12-second period, and the wind is light and cross-off from the NW. The energy is strong (1665), and the forecast says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the true standout of the whole outlook. The swell is clean, the wind is friendly, and it’s big enough to get some real power. A word of caution: the crowds are “sometimes” an issue, so you might have company.

Beyond that, Wednesday the 16th of September morning has a 4ft S swell with offshores from the N at 9 mph, giving clean conditions with moderate energy (422). It’s a solid option for the less experienced. The last few days of the outlook fade away with poor conditions and small waves.

To sum it up: the first week is a struggle, with only a couple of glassy mornings worth paddling out. The real action is on the 15th of September. That’s the one. It’s a big, clean swell with good wind. If you’re an expert, the 14th is there, but it’s pure chaos. For everyone else, keep your eyes on the 15th and the 16th of September.

Rusty.

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