North Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, this is Rusty checkin’ in for the North Beach area. Let’s talk about what’s on the table for the next 16 days, because there’s a bit of a mixed bag here.

The overall pattern for North Beach is a bit of a tease. We’ve got some solid swell energy on the horizon, but the wind is gonna be a real pain for most of the run. The first day that’s worth paddling out is Sunday the 23rd, but it’s not a classic. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.

Sunday, August 23rd is the opening act. The morning session is your best bet this week. We’ve got a 8ft swell out of the south, with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a solid 1199. That’s a decent amount of power. The wind is a cross-offshore from the SSW, keeping things clean. It’s a bit on the bigger side for beginners, but for an intermediate surfer, it’s a go. The afternoon drops off fast with a cross-shore wind and a smaller 6ft swell, so get your fix early.

Then we hit a dry spell. Monday and Tuesday the 24th and 25th are pretty much write-offs with onshore winds and weak, messy surf. Not worth your time.

Wednesday, August 26th, morning is the real standout. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The swell is a 4ft southerly, but the period is a massive 18 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell with serious energy. The combined energy reads 888, which is moderate but the quality will be high. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSW, and the report says it’s “clean.” For a point or reef setup, this long-period swell would be perfect, but at a beach/pier like North Beach, it might run a bit too straight. Still, with that clean glass, it’s the best looking window of the whole forecast. The afternoon stays in the 6ft range but the wind shifts onshore, so stick to the morning.

The rest of the week into the first week of September is a nightmare for wind. Thursday through the following Wednesday, we’ve got persistent strong onshore winds from the NE and ENE, blowing 18 to 28 mph. The surf is there, with some 8ft to 10ft days, but it’s going to be a mess. For a beach break, this setup actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The waves will be blown out wind-slop.

There’s a slight reprieve on Sunday, August 30th where the wind swings offshore again, but the swell is a short-period 6ft, and the energy is only 585. It’s rideable, but not a standout.

The final week is a lean affair. The first week of September sees a lot of small, choppy conditions with onshore winds. The only flicker of hope is Friday, September 4th, afternoon where a 3ft SSW swell with a 14-second period shows up with a clean cross-offshore wind. The energy is 668, which is alright, but it’s a long way off and the confidence is lower.

So, bottom line: hit the water early on Sunday the 23rd for the biggest clean waves, but the real gem is Wednesday morning, August 26th for that long-period groundswell with glassy conditions. After that, it’s a waiting game with a lot of wind.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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