Long Strand-Castlefreke Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s going on with Long Strand-Castlefreke.

First thing you need to know: the water is running at 66°F, which is about 5°F warmer than what’s normal for this time of year. That’s a pretty big deal – feels more like a late summer soak than a typical Atlantic dip.

Now, for the surf itself – and I’m being straight with you – the next week and a half is a tough watch. There’s a huge gap of poor conditions stretching from Monday, August 17th all the way through to the morning of Monday, August 24th. We’re looking at tiny waves, mostly under 1ft, with a lot of cross-onshore winds and messy, choppy water. The combined swell energy is barely registering, stuck in the low double-digits (44 to 84) – just weak, tired stuff. Not worth getting wet for.

A little ray of hope shows up around Tuesday morning, August 25th. We get a bump to 5ft, but it’s short-period windswell (only 5 seconds) and the wind is light cross-onshore. The combined energy jumps to 199 (moderate), but the "poor surf conditions" tag is still there, so it’s messy. Not your day to shine.

The real standout, the one to actually circle on the calendar, is the morning of Friday, August 28th. This is the only time in the whole window where the finder notes that wind and tide are favorable, even though the swell is predicted to be a bit too big for this break. We’re looking at 4ft from the south with a 6-second period and light onshore wind. The combined energy is a solid 245 – moderate and punchy. This is the best on offer, but I’d only send it if you’re experienced. The swell direction is south, coming in close to the optimum SW direction for the break, and with light winds, it’ll at least have some shape to it.

For the rest of the run into late August and early September, it’s more of the same: inconsistent, small (0.7ft to 2ft), blown out, or just weak. The period around September 1st looks outright rough with near gale force winds.

Because the break is exposed, fairly consistent in the long run, and we are seeing a moderate spike of energy on the 28th, I wouldn’t write the whole month off. It’s just a long, quiet stretch. But if you’re itching for a paddle, the 28th is your only real shot. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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