Nantasket Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Nantasket Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next ten days or so are a real struggle. There’s barely a wave worth paddling for. For the first week, from Wednesday the 26th of August all the way through to the end of the month, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell. Swell heights are mostly between 0.3 ft and 2 ft, with the combined energy barely ticking over, often in the single digits or low tens (39 down to 3). The wind is all over the place, but the wave energy just isn’t there. It’s a proper flat spell. You’d be better off checking the wind forecast for a kite session if that’s your thing, because for a surfboard, it’s a no-go.

Moving into the first days of September, it’s more of the same story. The 1st and 2nd have a bit of wind, but the swell is still tiny and weak. The energy stays pathetic (13 to 29). The 3rd of September (Thursday) is a little more promising with the swell height creeping up to 2 ft and energy hitting 45, but the wind is onshore, so it’s gonna be messy. Not worth the drive.

Then, things start to get interesting toward the end of the first week of September. On Friday the 4th, we finally see a pulse of real size. The swell jumps to 5 ft in the morning and 6 ft in the afternoon from the NE, with a period of 7-8 seconds. The combined energy jumps into the hundreds (244 and 373), which is a solid kick of moderate wave energy. But here’s the catch – the wind is a cross-onshore from the SSE, so it’s gonna be choppy and lumpy. The report says “poor surf conditions,” and I’m inclined to agree. For a beach break, that NE swell with a short period and onshore wind is going to be a mess. It’s more of a windswell than anything clean.

The weekend of the 5th and 6th of September is a wild card but not for the faint of heart. We’ve got near gale-force winds howling from the NNW and N at 31-34 mph. The swell drops a bit to 4-4 ft, but the energy stays moderate (194-230). The wind is cross-off or cross-shore, so the surface might be clean in the morning, but with that wind strength, it’s going to be an absolute battle. This is strictly for the hardcore crew with big balls and bigger boards. The period is 9 seconds, so it’s still a bit short and won’t have much shape. Honestly, with that wind, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The only standout that might be worth a mention is the very end of the forecast. On Wednesday the 9th of September, we get a tiny window. The swell is tiny (1.0 ft) from the ENE, but the wind goes glassy in the afternoon. The energy is still weak (15), but if you’re desperate for a glide and own a foamie, it might be the most peaceful session of the whole run. The 10th of September sees clean offshore winds, but the swell is gone again (0.7-1 ft).

So, the honest truth? There’s no proper standout here. The best on offer is a toss-up between the lumpy, onshore 6 ft wave on the 4th for the bodyboarders, or the wild, windy challenge on the 5th for the adrenaline junkies. If you’re looking for clean, lined-up waves, you’re out of luck. It’s a tough run for Nantasket. Forecasts can change, though, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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