Nahant Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. I’ve had a good look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you—it’s a tough stretch. We’ve got a real flat spell on the horizon, so don’t get your hopes up too high. Let’s start with the bigger picture, then we’ll pick through the scraps.

The whole 16-day window starts with a bit of a dud. Monday the 3rd of August is a no-go; the swell is tiny and messy with a storm risk and a stiff cross-off wind. The combined energy is weak (39). Tuesday the 4th of August offers our first real chance to get wet, but it’s a far cry from a classic. Nahant Beach is the only game in town, and it’s a beginner-friendly spot. It’s exposed to swell, but we’re dealing with a tiny 2ft SSE swell with a short period of 7 seconds — that’s windswell, not the good stuff. The combined energy is still low (60). The saving grace here is the light breeze and clean conditions, which will make it look okay for a longboard or a foamie. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so not a shock to the system.

After that, it’s a long, painful stretch of nothing. From Wednesday the 5th of August all the way through Monday the 18th of August, the forecast is a desert. We’re talking wave heights that barely hit 2ft, periods that are mostly short and weak, and combined energy values that are just sad — mostly in the single digits or low double digits. There are some glassy mornings here and there, like early on Wednesday the 12th of August, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft from the ENE with a period of just 4 seconds. It’s practically flat. You’d be surfing ankle-snappers at best.

So, if you’re dying for a paddle, the only real standout — and I use that term loosely — is Tuesday the 4th of August. The offshore wind in the morning and the light cross-off in the afternoon will keep it clean. Don’t expect barrels; expect a fun, gentle wave for the kids or the beginners. The crowd at Nahant Beach can be an issue, so get there early for a chance at a few solo waves.

For the rest of the fortnight, honestly, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, given the persistent small, weak swell and the occasional breezy afternoons. It’s a blank run, and that’s pretty normal for this area when the swell window goes quiet. Forecasts can change, but right now, this is a tough one to call a surf trip over.

Stay patient, keep your eye on the charts, and maybe wax up the longboard for that Tuesday morning session. That’s your best bet.

Rusty.

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