Lake Ferry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here again, but I’ll switch to feet and miles for you.

We’re in for a mixed bag over the next 16 days, with a few notable windows of decent surf but plenty of flat, wind-affected, or just plain messy days to work around. The first real action isn’t until Thursday morning, the 27th of August, so we’ve got a bit of a wait. The first few days offer some solid, clean groundswell, but it’s strictly for the experienced crew. After that, there’s a long, frustrating gap before things get interesting again around the end of the month.

The standout period is the end of August and the very start of September. Lake Ferry is the only spot on the cards, and it’s a sandbar setup that needs a south swell and those light, offshore winds to really work. The best call is Monday the 31st of August. We’re looking at a solid 10ft SSW groundswell with a 12-second period, packing a massive 2364 combined energy. The wind is a light NNE breeze, which is a touch offshore for this spot. That’s some serious, powerful energy, and for a sandbar, that long period (12 seconds) is going to produce some well-shaped, powerful lines. The catch? It’s too big for beginners, and it’s an advanced-only affair. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. Monday morning is the pick, but be aware it can get crowded at this spot, so you’ll want to be early.

Tuesday the 1st of September is a very close second. Another 10ft SSW swell, again with a 12-second period and a massive 2429 combined energy. The wind is light from the north, keeping it clean. This is a two-day pulse of serious, expert-level groundswell. After that, a strong nor’westerly kicks in and the swell drops off, making for a week of poor-to-marginal conditions with strong, clean winds that are just too strong for good surf.

A late mention goes to Monday the 7th of September. The swell is tiny, only 1ft, but the wind goes glassy in the afternoon with a light ESE breeze. The energy is weak (94 combined energy), so it’s small and ordinary, but it’s a rare moment of real calm. For the rest of the second week, it’s mostly small, choppy, or onshore, with some strong winds that make it more interesting for a kite session than a paddle.

Bottom line: get on it Monday the 31st of August or Tuesday the 1st of September if you’ve got the skills and the gear. The rest of the window is mostly a write-off, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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