North Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what North Beach has in store for us. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, and we’ve got a long wait ahead for anything that really gets the heart pumping.

Right off the bat, the first few days are a write-off. Saturday the 29th is a no-go with a messy 10-foot easterly wind swell, but a strong 25 mph cross-onshore wind will tear it to bits. The combined energy is a hefty 1158, but it’s all for nothing. The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

We limp through the rest of August and into the start of September. Sunday the 30th has a cleaner 5-foot swell with a cross-off wind, but the energy is dropping (704) and the forecast is only marginal. Monday and Tuesday are even smaller, with onshore winds and poor conditions. Wednesday the 2nd gets a weird mix – a tiny 2-foot swell with a very long 16-second period, but the energy is low (284) and the wind is cross-shore. It’s just not coming together.

Then, we hit a real standout. Friday the 4th of September. The forecast is for a powerful 10-foot swell from the SSE, with a combined energy of 1705. That’s serious energy. But here’s the rub – the guidance says this swell is predicted to be too big for this break. For a beach/pier setup like North Beach, waves over 8 feet are expert territory only. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it won’t be clean. This one is for the big dogs only, if anyone is brave enough to test it. The rest of us should watch from the sand.

After that spike, things get messy again. The following week is a bumpy ride of onshore winds and junky surf. The swell directions swing around, but the wind is never on our side. There’s a slight chance of a cleaner window on the morning of Tuesday the 8th with a light breeze, but the swell is only 5 feet with a short 7-second period. It’s marginal at best.

The last few days of the outlook, from the 10th to the 13th, show a bit of size in the 7 to 8-foot range from the east, but it’s all cross-onshore and lumpy. It’s not the kind of surf you paddle out for unless you’re desperate for a workout.

So, to cut to the chase: the absolute best on offer is that Friday the 4th of September for the experienced crew. It’s a big, powerful swell, but it’s a beast for experts only. For the rest of us, the next best might be a quick look at the morning of Sunday the 30th of August for a clean but small wave. There are long gaps of poor conditions in between, so don’t hold your breath.

Stay salty,
Rusty.

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