North wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s break it down.

We’re looking at Northwall, and the next couple of weeks have a bit of a slow start, then some real promise if you’re patient. The water’s sitting at 69°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The first surf worth paddling out for is this Saturday morning, the 29th of August. We’ve got a clean 4ft SSE swell rolling in with a 10-second period. The wind is a cross-off from the south at 9 mph, so it’ll be tidy. The combined energy is moderate at (378). It’s not huge, but it’s a fun, manageable size for most. Later that day, the wind swings and the quality drops right off, so make the most of the morning.

Sunday the 30th sees a bump in size to 7ft from the SSE, but the period drops to a short 8 seconds, and the wind is cross-off again at 12 mph. The energy is solid (514), but that short period makes it a bit lumpy and less predictable. It’s a morning session for the patient ones, as the afternoon drops to 5ft with similar conditions.

Monday the 31st is a step down, with 5ft and a very short 7-second period. The cross-off wind holds, but the quality is marginal. The energy is (330). Not really the pick of the week.

Now, here’s where it gets good. Tuesday morning, the 1st of September. The swell drops to 3ft from the SSE, but the period stretches out to a lovely 11 seconds. The wind? Glassy. Absolute zero wind from the SSW at 3 mph. The break will be clean as a whistle, and that moderate energy (319) will produce some beautifully shaped little lines. This is a standout for the patient surfer who wants a glassy, fun morning.

Wednesday the 2nd has similar 3ft SSE swell and a long 11-second period, but with a light cross-shore wind, it’s not quite as perfect. Still, the energy is (242), so it’s surfable but not the highlight.

The first few days of September look pretty average overall. Swell drops to small, and winds turn onshore or messy. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th have tiny 2ft swell and poor quality. There’s a definite gap in good surf through this period.

Then, a real standout pops up a week later. Monday morning, the 7th of September. We get a classic, punchy 4ft NNE swell with a very short 5-second period, but the wind is offshore from the west at 16 mph. The energy reading is (208). That offshore wind will groom that short-period swell into clean, ripable waves. It’s a solid expert session, but the short period means it will be a bit dumpy and fast.

Then, later in the second week, the long-period swell returns. Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th of September both offer glassy mornings with 3ft to 3ft SSE swell at an excellent 11-second period. The energy is moderate (213-280), and with zero wind, these mornings are pure gold for a longboard or a mid-length. The waves will be clean, lined up, and super easy to paddle into.

Overall, the absolute best on offer is Tuesday morning the 1st of September for that glassy, clean, long-period swell, and then the glassy mornings on the 12th and 13th for more of the same. The bigger, windier days in between are for the experienced crew with a shortboard who can handle a bit of chop. The first week is average, so don’t get too excited until that glassy surface hits.

Rusty.

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