Latigo Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for you. I’m lookin’ at the whole 16-day window, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough one. There’s a big gap of flatness and poor conditions at the start, so don’t bother paddlin’ out just yet.

The first real sniff of anything surfable doesn’t show up until Wednesday, August 5th, in the afternoon at Latigo Point. Even then, it’s barely a whisper. The water’s warmin’ things up a treat – currently a balmy 72°F, which is a whole 8°F warmer than what’s normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, feels like a bath.

Alright, let’s get into it. The first few days are a washout. From Monday the 3rd right through to Tuesday the 5th, it’s pretty much all "poor surf conditions" with a score of 0. The swell is tiny, around 1ft, and the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, messin’ up any chance of a clean face. The combined wave energy is weak, hittin’ low numbers like 70 and 104.

Wednesday afternoon, August 5th, we finally see a glimmer. The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It’s still only 1ft from the SW, with a period of 14 seconds. The wind is a cross-offshore at 9 mph, which is a positive, but the energy is still low at 95. It’s an option if you’re absolutely desperate, but it’s nothing to write home about.

We then hit another long dry spell. From Thursday the 6th right through to the 13th, the scores are all zeros or ones. The swell does pick up a little, getting to 2ft and 2ft, and the period stretches out nicely – we’re talkin’ 15 to 19 seconds of groundswell. The combined energy jumps into the 200s and 300s by Friday the 7th (305) and Saturday the 8th (291), which is moderate energy. But the wind keeps lettin’ us down. It’s mostly onshore or cross-onshore, making the conditions poor. The best of a bad bunch is Thursday afternoon, August 13th, with that same "surfable but very ordinary" tag and clean wind from the W at 9 mph, but it’s still only 2ft. The water temp anomaly is only given for the first record, so I can’t confirm it stays warm.

Now, the standout window – and I mean *the* standout for this whole period – starts to shape up on Friday, August 14th. The afternoon at Latigo Point sees a 2ft SSW swell with a 19-second period. That’s a very long period groundswell, which means better shaped waves but longer lulls between sets. The energy is strong at 310. Best of all, the wind is a clean cross-offshore at 9 mph. This is the pick of the lot. It’s still small, but for a break that "rarely breaks," this is a decent chance to get a few clean ones. The report calls it "marginal," but given the conditions elsewhere, this is your best bet.

Saturday, August 15th, is the next best. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the energy is pumping at 363 in the morning and 344 in the afternoon. The wind is cross-offshore and clean again, 12 mph in the afternoon. This is the biggest swell of the whole run, but it’s still only 3ft, so it’s fine for all levels. The crowd situation at Latigo Point is "often," so expect some company if you head out.

After that, it tapers off. Sunday and Monday the 16th and 17th are still surfable, with 2ft and 2ft swell, but the wind gets a bit messy again.

So, to wrap it up: don’t bother with the first week. The real action is from Friday, August 14th, through to Sunday, August 16th. The standout is Friday afternoon with that clean, long-period swell. Saturday has the biggest waves. After that, the window closes again. It’s a lean spell, but for a spot that rarely picks up, this is a little gem.

Rusty.

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