Lake Ferry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for our local sandbar, Lake Ferry.

First things first, the water's sitting at 51.6° – that's a bit colder than what we're used to for this time of year, so you'll want that extra-thick wetsuit. Don't let that put you off, though, because there's a serious pulse of energy headed our way, a massive 4079 (moderate to strong wave energy) in the water by Wednesday the 19th of August afternoon. We're talking a solid 9.8ft southerly swell with a 14-second period. That's a proper groundswell, packing a punch. Now, this is a big one – over 8.2ft, so this is strictly for the experienced crew. The wind is onshore from the SSW at 9 mph, which isn't ideal, but the report mentions the tide and wind are favorable for the break. Still, that size is a beast.

The real standout, the one to circle on your calendar, is the Friday morning of the 21st of August. That's where it all comes together. We've got a 5.2ft southerly swell, but the period stretches out to a very long 15 seconds. That's pure, grunty groundswell energy (1239 energy), perfect for a sandbar like Lake Ferry. More importantly, the wind is swinging around to a clean, off-NNE direction at just 6 mph. That's pure, clean, offshore conditions. This will be excellent for experienced surfers looking for some proper lined-up walls. Expect a few long lulls between sets, but the waves that come through will be well worth the paddle.

Friday afternoon looks a bit less appealing as the wind swings cross-off and picks up.

The rest of the week is a write-off thanks to strong winds, with the swell dropping right out by the weekend. There's a glimmer on Monday the 24th and again on Thursday the 27th of August with some waist-high swell and lighter winds, but nothing that really jumps off the page compared to that Friday morning session.

After that, it's a long, quiet stretch right through to the start of September. The energy fades away and we get a run of small, choppy conditions with onshore winds. The system tries to kick up again on the 2nd of September with a 8.2ft S swell, but the wind is nasty cross-onshore, making it a messy, blown-out mess. That kind of size and wind at a beach setup might be more interesting for the kite crew than for us paddle surfers.

So, bottom line: the best bet by a country mile is the Friday morning of the 21st of August. Get on it before it gets messy. The near-term Wednesday is a big wave option only for the brave. After that, it's a waiting game.

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