Lake Ferry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. It’s a slow start, so don’t be in a rush to grab your board.

We’re looking at Lake Ferry, and honestly, the first few days are a write-off. Wednesday through to Thursday, the 10th, the surf is pretty poor. The swell is tiny, or the wind is all wrong, and the energy is just not there. On Thursday afternoon, we get a bit of a bump to 4 ft, but it’s a short period 4-second wind swell with onshore wind, so it’s not going to be pretty. You’re better off staying home.

Friday the 11th shows a long-period 18-second swell pushing through, with a combined energy of 399 (moderate), but it’s still only a marginal call. The cross-offshore wind is okay, but the swell is small and the conditions are described as questionable. It’s a tease.

Now, mark your calendar for Saturday morning, the 12th of September. This is your standout. The wind is dead calm, glassy, with a light breeze from the east at 3 mph. The swell is a solid 5 ft from the SSW with a long 15-second period, pumping in with a combined energy of 1202 (strong). This is a proper groundswell, and the conditions are glassy. The water temp is 56°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s not a total ice bath. This is a session for experienced surfers, as the size is getting up there—beginner territory is a no-go. The swell is from the south, which is the optimum direction for this sandbar, and the offshore wind from the NNE will keep it clean. This is the best on offer by a long shot. The afternoon ramps up to 8 ft, but the wind switches onshore, making it a bit of a mess and potentially too big for the average punter.

Sunday the 13th is still big, with 8 ft to 7 ft from the SSW, but the wind is cross-onshore, putting ripples on the face. It’s a marginal session for the experts. Monday the 14th morning is a nice return to form: 5 ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the north at 6 mph. The combined energy of 768 (moderate) is good, but it’s not as strong as Saturday. Still, a solid option for a Monday morning surf.

The rest of the second week is a bit of a mixed bag. Tuesday the 15th through to the 20th sees the swell drop off and the wind pick up, with a lot of cross-offshore breezes and fresh winds that kill the quality. There’s nothing really worth chasing. The energy is weak, mostly under 300, and the conditions are described as poor or marginal.

We get a couple of late-period pulses. On the 21st of September, there’s a 5 ft 13-second swell on Monday morning, but the wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s just a marginal look. Then on Tuesday the 22nd, we get a 8 ft 8-second wind swell, but it’s onshore and short period, so it’s going to be a lumpy, choppy mess with a combined energy of 1156. Not for the faint of heart.

Finally, on Wednesday morning, the 23rd of September—a week and a half out—we see a beast of a swell: 10 ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, and a combined energy of 2948 (very strong). The wind is a light easterly, making it clean. But here’s the catch: the forecast says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. That’s a warning. For the experts only, and even then, it’s a risky call. It’s a long-range forecast, so take it with a grain of salt, but it’s the only other big pulse in the window.

The 24th settles back down to a small 3 ft, which is clean but not worth driving for.

So, the two standouts are Saturday morning, the 12th for the best combination of clean, glassy conditions and solid, long-period swell, and Wednesday the 23rd for the raw power, but only if you’re a seasoned pro and the forecast holds. The rest of the time, you’re picking through marginal scraps.

Stay patient, and don’t sleep on that Saturday.

Rusty.

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