Nordseeklinik Westerland (Sylt) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening in the water over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch for the most part. We’re looking at a long, flat and messy run for the first week and a half. The good news is that the models are showing a solid pulse of energy arriving around the 20th of July, which could be the one to circle. The water is sitting at about 62°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Starting now, we’ve got nothing but small, weak, and wind-blown mush. The swell is tiny, mostly around 1.0ft to 1ft from the NW, with a short period of 5 seconds. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making it a complete write-off. The combined wave energy is pathetic, just 9 (weak energy) on Friday morning. This flat spell drags on for days. The only flicker of hope comes on Sunday afternoon, the 12th. The swell nudges up to 4ft, but it’s still a weak NW windswell with a period of 7 seconds, and the wind turns glassy from the north. The energy is a bit more noticeable at 129 (moderate), and the surf is surfable but very ordinary. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but it’s not a standout.

The wind continues to mess things up through the middle of the week, with small, poor waves and moderate breezes. We get a little window on the morning of the 16th of July, with a light offshore breeze from the SE. The swell is still small at 2ft, but the period stretches to 7 seconds, and the energy is 38. It’s clean, but you’d be on a longboard fighting for scraps.

The real deal, the one to watch, is on Monday the 20th of July. That morning, the swell jumps to 8ft from the NW, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1092 (strong), and the wind is a gentle cross-shore from the WSW. The conditions are rated as marginal, but by the afternoon, it all comes together. The swell holds at 8ft, still from the NW, with a 10-second period, and the wind swings to a clean cross-offshore from the SSW. The energy is a huge 1297 (strong), and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is a proper, powerful groundswell, and it’s going to be big. For beginners, this is a no-go as it’s over 8ft. For the rest of you, this is the window. The swell direction is from the NW, and the optimum direction for this spot is W, so it’s a bit of an angle, but with that much energy and clean wind, it will still produce.

After that, the swell drops back and the wind turns onshore again, shutting it down. The 20th of July afternoon is the clear standout. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the forecasts, but if it holds, that’s the day.

Rusty.

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