Nahant Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this straight. Looking at the next 16 days from Nahant Beach, I’m not gonna lie to you – it’s a tough stretch. We’ve got a long, flat spell to start, and it’s going to take a while before we see anything that even gets the heart rate up.

The first week is grim. From Friday the 7th right through to the 13th, we’re looking at tiny, junky surf. Nothing over 0.6ft, and most of it is under 0.3ft. There’s plenty of clean mornings, like Friday with that glassy west wind and again on Wednesday the 12th, but it’s just no good. Like trying to surf a bathtub. The water temp is running about 3°F colder than usual for this time of year, sitting at 67°F, so factor that in.

There’s a small bump on Thursday the 13th afternoon. A SSE swell pushes us up to 2ft with a 4-second period. That’s windswell junk, but the WSW offshore wind will have it looking clean. Still, it’s a dribbler, and the weak energy reading (15) tells you it’s not worth rushing out.

The next day, Friday the 14th, sees a bit more energy, with the reading up to 21, but the swell is coming from the ESE at 0.6ft. The wind is onshore and messy, so it’s a no-go.

The weekend of the 15th and 16th is when things start to shift. Saturday the 15th still has poor surf, but Sunday the 16th afternoon is where we get our first real hint of life. A 3ft SSE swell with a 5-second period, and a moderate energy of 46. The cross-offshore wind from the SW will keep it somewhat clean, but the period is short and it's lumpy. It’s not great, but it’s the best we’ve seen.

Then, Monday the 17th morning is the standout of the whole window. We see a 3ft swell from the SE with a 6-second period, and the energy jumps to 94 – that’s the most we get all forecast. The wind is a cross-offshore from the NW at 12 mph, keeping the face clean. It’s still not a big swell, but it’s the most push we get. For a beach break like Nahant, this is your best chance to catch a few. It’s a beginner-friendly height, but the onshore angle might make it a bit lumpy. Still, it’s the day to try.

After that, it’s back to the flatness. The energy drops off through the middle of the week, and the surf stays tiny. The 22nd of August shows a long-period, 13-second swell from the E, but only 0.6ft. That’s a tease – all that period and no height. It’s glassy in the morning, which will be pretty to look at, but there’s nothing to ride.

So, bottom line: there’s not a lot on offer. The highlight is Monday morning the 17th, with about 3ft of SE swell. It won’t be epic, but it’s the only thing that comes close to surfable. Otherwise, you’re looking at a long stretch of flatness. The water’s a touch cold, the surf is small, and we just have to wait it out. Forecasts can change, but as it stands, keep the board in the car for that Monday session.

Rusty.

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