North Jetty at Eureka Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, Rusty here again. Let’s put it in feet and miles per hour for the crew that thinks that way.

The forecast is looking pretty average for the next week or so, but there’s a juicy window of clean, powerful swell building in the second week that could be a proper score. Here’s how it looks.

Right now at North Jetty at Eureka, there’s a 3-foot swell from the SW with a 17-second period. That’s some serious groundswell, and the water is about 58°, which is normal for this time of year. The problem is a cross-onshore wind from the NNW at 9 mph is putting a chop on it. The wave energy is weak (780), so it’s not really doing anything.

Thursday the 11th morning is a little better, with a 4-foot SW swell at 16 seconds and a light onshore breeze from the NW at 6 mph. The energy is moderate (904), but it’s still only marginal. The afternoon gets worse as the wind picks up.

The weekend of the 12th and 13th is a no-go. Swell between 3 and 4 feet, but the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore from the N and NNW at 9 to 12 mph, making it choppy. The energy stays weak to moderate (255 to 782).

Monday the 14th brings a 7-foot swell from the NW, but the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind is cross-on at 9 to 12 mph. The energy is moderate (673), but it’s a messy, windy beach break. That’s a kite-surfing day, not a surfing day.

The 15th, 16th, and 17th are more of the same: 5 to 7-foot NW swell, cross-on winds, and short periods of 7 to 8 seconds. It stays marginal to poor, with energy between 286 and 636. Nothing worth paddling out for.

The 18th and 19th see the swell drop to 2 feet, but the period jumps to 18 to 19 seconds from the SW. That’s very long-period groundswell, with moderate energy (332 to 501). The wind is light cross-shore or cross-on, so if you’ve got a longboard and the tides are right, you might pick off a few clean ones.

Now here’s the good news. On Monday the 21st, a new NW swell pushes in at 7 feet with an 8-second period. The morning wind is a light cross-on from the N at 6 mph. The energy is strong (977), and things are starting to clean up.

The real standout is Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd of September. Tuesday afternoon shows a 7-foot swell from the NNW at 9 seconds, with a light cross-offshore wind from the SSW at 6 mph. The wave energy is very strong (1013) and the conditions are “clean.” That’s a solid window for experienced surfers.

But the best day by far is Wednesday the 23rd of September. The swell hits 8 feet from the NNW at 9 seconds, with glassy conditions in the afternoon. The wind is a light W at 3 mph, basically dead calm. The wave energy is very strong (1475). This is big, clean, and powerful. It’s going to be too big for beginners and the crowd at North Jetty can be an issue, so expect a full car park if the forecast holds. This is strictly for the experienced crew.

After that, the swell fades through the 24th and 25th, with onshore or cross-shore winds bringing it back to marginal. The 25th ends the period with a 3-foot lump and light wind, but the energy is weak (272).

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a bust. Don’t even bother. The second half of the 22nd and all of the 23rd of September is your target – big, clean, and lined up. It’s a longer-range call, so keep your fingers crossed, but it’s got real potential.

Rusty.

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