Nauset Light Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this stretch of coast is in a bit of a flat spell. There’s not a single standout session in the whole 16-day window, so we’re looking at a long gap of poor to non-existent surf. The first recommendation is for Saturday afternoon, August 29th, but it’s a tough one.

Nauset Light Beach is the only break on the cards, and it’s a sandbar setup that’s exposed to the east. The story starts with a tiny, weak east-northeast swell at 5 seconds, pushing a pathetic 2ft. The combined swell energy is a measly (20). To make matters worse, the wind is light and onshore, so it’s not clean. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 70°, about 3° above average, so it’s not uncomfortable, but it’s not making anything better. This is poor surf, and any beginner will be bored.

Sunday the 30th is even worse. The swell drops to 0.7ft with a westerly offshore wind – sounds good, but there’s no wave to hold up. By Monday, August 31st, we’re still stuck under 1ft. The whole first week is a write-off; the wind is either onshore, cross-shore, or too strong, and the swell never gets above 4ft with any meaningful energy. The combined energy only breaks into double digits a few times, like Wednesday afternoon, September 2nd, with a 2ft swell and period of 10 seconds, but the cross-onshore wind chops it up.

The second week starts with a glimmer of hope that quickly fades. Saturday, September 5th, sees a 3ft east-northeast swell with a 9-second period and the combined energy climbs to (90). The wind is light and cross-offshore, making it clean. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Sunday, September 6th, has a glassy morning with a 4ft swell, but it’s a short period of 5 seconds and the energy is only (51) – it’s a weak, sloppy wave. Through the rest of the week, the swell stays small, mostly under 3ft, and the wind keeps it messy. The biggest reading comes on Tuesday, September 8th, with a 3ft northeast swell at 9 seconds and energy of (233), but it’s cross-shore and choppy. Not one for the log book.

The final stretch from September 11th to 13th is a whimper. Offshore winds on the 11th polish a 1ft wave – it’s clean but tiny. Saturday the 12th has a 4ft north-northeast swell with a 5-second period and energy of (160), but the wind is cross-offshore and fresh, making it a lumpy, short-period mess. For a sandbar like Nauset Light, these short-period swells don’t wrap well, and the beach break setup will just close out. It’s a tough period, and honestly, this looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer when the wind kicks up. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, save your energy.

Rusty.

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