Lake Ferry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at the whole 16-day picture for Lake Ferry. It’s a sandbar break, exposed to the swell, and the optimum direction is from the south. The water temperature is sitting at 51°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a good 5/4 and some booties.

We kick things off on Monday the 24th of August with some surf, but don’t get too excited. There’s a 8ft SSW swell with a 13-second period, but the wind’s a cross-off from the north, and the conditions are described as marginal with questionable tides. The combined swell energy is high at 1919, but the quality just isn’t there. The afternoon drops to 7ft.

Tuesday the 25th is poor. The swell drops to 4ft in the morning and the wind is up to 30 km/h. Not worth paddling out.

Wednesday the 26th is similar story – 4ft swell with a nice long 15-second period, but the wind is 30 km/h in the afternoon ruining it. The morning has a gentler breeze, but it’s just not coming together.

Now, Thursday the 27th of August is where we get our first true standout. The morning is absolutely glassy with zero wind, and a solid 8ft SSW swell running with a very long 17-second period. The combined energy is a massive 3327. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. That long period groundswell will be lining up nicely, but watch for it to be a bit straight-breaking on a sandbar; still, with glassy conditions, the sets will be clean and powerful. This is the best session on offer in the whole first week. Crowds are possible here.

Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th are mostly poor, with onshore winds and dropping swell. Sunday the 30th only has a tiny 2ft swell with weak energy (100). A total write-off.

Monday the 31st of August sees a return of some hope. A 5ft SSW swell arrives in the morning with a 14-second period and light breeze, giving expect very good surf conditions. The afternoon looks better with a 4ft swell and light cross-off wind, making for excellent surf for experienced surfers. Combined energy hits 1121 in the PM. Not a standout, but a decent session.

Then we hit a massive spike on Tuesday the 1st of September. An 18ft SSW swell with a 13-second period is on the cards. That’s huge. The combined energy is an enormous 9908. The forecast says it’s too big for this break, so unless you’re a shark-bait big-wave charger with a jet-ski, give it a wide berth. The afternoon is still a 15ft monster. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s questionable.

Wednesday the 2nd of September is still big with a 8ft swell, but the wind is a strong 40 km/h cross-off. It’s messy and the tide looks questionable. Not recommended.

Thursday the 3rd of September is a lost cause with strong onshore winds and a lumpy, cross-onshore mess. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Friday the 4th of September has some hope with a 8ft SSW swell and gentle cross-shore wind, but it’s noted as marginal with cross-chop. Afternoon has onshore wind.

The final weekend, Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of September, is a slow fade. Saturday is tiny at 3ft. Sunday the 6th morning has a glassy 3ft SSW swell with a 12-second period. It’s surfable for a longboard or a funboard, with calm winds giving clean conditions. Combined energy is low at 209.

From there, the second week runs dry with small, weak swell and strong winds. The 7th and 8th of September are poor, with winds over 35 km/h and swells dropping below 3ft.

So to sum it up: don’t hold your breath for the first few days. The absolute standout is Thursday the 27th of August morning at Lake Ferry. That glassy, long-period groundswell with 8ft is the one to circle on the calendar. The other decent shot is the afternoon of Monday the 31st of August. Everything else is either too big, too windy, or too small. It’s a patchy run, but that one morning will make it worth the wait. Keep an eye on the forecasts though, it tends not to stay poor for long.

Rusty.

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