Nauset Light Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s run through what Nauset Light Beach has in store for the next couple weeks. I’ll be straight with ya—this stretch is lookin’ pretty flat and quiet for most of it. There’s no standout sessions, so keep your hopes in check.

The forecast starts on Tuesday, August 18th, and it’s grim from the get-go. Swell is tiny at 2 ft out of the SE with a weak period of 8 seconds. Combined wave energy is a paltry 37 (weak energy), and with a light cross-onshore breeze, it’s just messy. Water temp is 71°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year—nice if you’re just floatin’.

Through Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th, the swell drops even smaller—down to 1–1 ft. The wind swings offshore at times, so the surface might look clean, but with wave energy barely crackin’ 23 (weak energy), there’s nothin’ to push you down the line. Friday the 21st sees a tiny pulse of 3 ft from the NNE, but it’s a short-period windswell at 4 seconds, and the cross-onshore wind adds chop. Energy is only 43 (weak energy). Not worth paddlin’ out.

Saturday the 22nd has a slight uptick in the afternoon: 2 ft from the E, but with a long period of 13 seconds. That gives us a combined energy of 120 (moderate energy), which is the first hint of a bit more push. But the wind is cross-onshore at 12 mph, makin’ it choppy, and the report says “poor surf conditions.” Still, that longer period hints at some groundswell energy, though it’s too weak to really light up the sandbar.

Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th are back to tiny, unremarkable waves under 1–2 ft, with clean conditions but no real swell. Tuesday the 25th offers a rare moment: the afternoon is glassy with an ESE breeze at just 3 mph, and the water is flat calm. But the swell is only 1 ft from the ENE with a 4-second period—basically a ripple. Wave energy is 15 (weak energy). It’s pretty, but there’s nothin’ to ride.

From the 26th of August right through the end of the month, it’s more of the same: tiny waves, mostly under 2 ft, with short periods and weak energy. The 29th of August afternoon does nudge up to 3 ft from the SSE with a 7-second period, and combined energy jumps to 158 (moderate energy). But the wind is cross-onshore, creatin’ small wind ripples, and the “poor surf conditions” warning is still up. Not a recommendable session.

Into the first days of September, the energy starts buildin’. On September 1st afternoon, you get 3 ft from the SE at 6 seconds, with a moderate cross-onshore chop and energy at 116 (moderate). Still not clean enough to get excited. Then on Wednesday, September 2nd morning, the swell hits 2 ft from the ESE, but the period jumps to 14 seconds (long period groundswell), givin’ us a combined energy of 297 (moderate-to-strong energy). The wind is onshore at 9 mph, but the period suggests some proper wave shape. That afternoon is similar at 2 ft and 13 seconds, energy at 258 (moderate-to-strong). The comments still say “poor surf conditions,” but this is the most interestin’ window in the whole outlook. With the wind onshore and the break bein’ a sandbar, that long-period swell might run a bit straight and dumpy. It’s a maybe, but not a standout.

Honestly, through this whole 16-day run, there is not a single recommendation. The waves are consistently tiny or poorly conditioned. Nauset Light Beach is a fairly consistent spot overall, so this sort of blank run ain’t the norm. Forecasts can change, but right now it’s a waitin’ game.

Rusty.

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