Lakes Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s shaping up for our local stretch.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag. The weekend starts with some lumpy, cross-shore wind and a marginal 4ft SSE swell that’s just not worth paddling out for. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is about normal for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The real bright spot in the near term is Sunday morning, 30 August. The wind goes glassy, coming from the north at just 3 mph, and we’ve got a clean 3ft S swell with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (267), and it’s going to be clean as a whistle. This is your best bet for the early part of the week. Monday morning, 31 August is also looking good with another glassy session, 4ft S swell, and a bit more energy (373). The swell is still small and clean, perfect for a longboard or a fun board.

After that, we hit a dry spell. The wind turns onshore and messy from Tuesday through to the following Saturday, with the swell dropping to knee-high and the energy falling off a cliff. The conditions are ordinary, and I wouldn’t bother getting the wax out.

Now, we’ve got a longer-range promise that’s worth keeping an eye on. Sunday morning, 6 September sees a return of surf with a 4ft S swell, 9-second period, and light cross-off wind from the south. The energy is moderate (311) and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” It’s a solid, clean option.

Then things get serious. From Monday 7 September through Wednesday 9 September, the swell really kicks up, but it gets too big for a break like this. The wind is strong offshore, but the swell pushes 7ft to 8ft, and the energy ramps up from 478 to a massive 1912. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s likely going to be a washing machine. The swell is coming from the S and SW, and with those periods around 8 to 12 seconds, it’s going to be powerful and unruly.

The standout window, though, is Thursday morning, 10 September. We’ve got a 7ft SSE groundswell, a very long 12-second period, and glassy conditions. The combined energy is a big 1140. This is an excellent opportunity for experienced surfers. The swell is just under the 8ft mark, so it’s big but not unmanageable for those who know what they’re doing. The long period means the waves will have plenty of push and shape, but at a beach break, it might be a bit straight. Still, with glassy conditions, it’s the best on offer.

Friday morning, 11 September is another clean one, with a 4ft SSE swell, 12-second period, and zero wind. The energy is still high (705), and it’s forecast as “very good surf conditions.” This would be a great follow-up session for the more experienced crew.

After that, the swell fades out again, and the last few days of the outlook are small and messy, with onshore winds and poor conditions.

So, to sum it up: the best sessions are Sunday morning the 30th of August and Monday morning the 31st of August for smaller, clean waves. Then, for the bigger stuff, mark your calendar for Thursday morning the 10th of September and Friday morning the 11th of September – those are the standouts, but they’re for experienced surfers only. The long-range stuff is promising, but keep an eye on the forecast as we get closer. The lake is a bit fickle at times, but it never stays flat for too long.

Rusty.

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