Nimitz Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the coming weeks.

Straight up, it’s a pretty grim start for Nimitz Beach. The first week is a write-off with nothing but poor surf conditions and tiny, weak swell. You’re looking at a solid 5-day gap with no real surf to speak of. The water is sitting at 81°, which is about normal for this time of year – nothing wild there.

Things start to get a little more interesting around the second week, but it’s still a marginal game. The first hint of something surfable comes on Wednesday, 12 August morning. The wind is a cross-off from the east at 15 mph, which keeps the surface clean. Swell is coming from the south at 3ft with a 18-second period. That’s a long period groundswell, which means better shaped waves but longer waits between sets. The combined energy is moderate (851). It’s still not a standout, but it’s a step up.

The best call of the whole 16-day window looks to be Thursday, 13 August morning. Swell is from the south at 4ft with a 16-second period. The wind is cross-off from the east at 22 mph, keeping it clean. The combined energy is strong (1207), so there’s some real push behind it. For a beginner reef break, this is getting a bit too big and powerful, but for anyone with experience, this is the moment to paddle out. The long period means it’ll be a bit walled at a beach break, but on a reef like Nimitz, the shape should be there.

After that, from Friday, 14 August into the weekend, the swell jumps up a bit more, hitting 6ft to 7ft from the east, but the period drops right off to a short 8 seconds. That’s windswell territory – lumpy, weak, and messy. The wind stays cross-off and clean, but the wave quality is poor. With these sizes and short period, it’s only going to be for experts, and honestly, it’s more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The energy is still strong (1222 to 1021), but it’s not user-friendly.

By Monday, 17 August, the swell fades back to tiny 2ft windswell from the west, and the whole thing just fizzles out. Nothing else worth chasing in the second week.

So, if you’re looking for a window, the morning of Thursday, 13 August is your best bet. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only real standout in a long, quiet stretch. Keep an eye on the wind, because it’s the only thing making this spot work.

Rusty.

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