Number Fours Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's break down the next 16 days for Number Fours. I’ll be honest, this is a rough patch. The first week and a half is mostly a bust. The wind is stuck from the ENE, blowing cross-off, so the surface is clean, but the swell is just not showing up. The water is about 79°, which is normal for this time of year, so at least the water feels fine.

The best we can say for the first week is the Monday morning and afternoon of July 13th. The swell is 6ft to 6ft from the ENE, with a short, punchy 8-second period. The combined energy is moderate (636 to 687). It’s still marginal, and the direction is cross-off, so it won’t be a classic Number Fours session. This is only for the die-hards.

Then we hit a flat spell. From July 14th through July 19th, the swell is tiny. The energy drops off a cliff (down to 225), and the swell is mostly from the SW with a long period (13-17 seconds), but it’s only 2ft to 2ft. That’s a long wait for a knee-high wave. The wind stays clean, but there’s no power. A real blank stretch.

Things start to look a little better around July 20th. The combined energy builds, hitting 853 on the Monday afternoon of July 20th, with a 3ft swell from the E at 18 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which is good for a reef like Number Fours. The wind is still cross-off from the ENE at 22 mph, keeping it clean. The energy stays up through the 21st and 22nd of July, with the 21st showing the best: a 3ft swell from the E at 16 seconds, with energy hitting 887 (moderate). The wind eases a bit on the 22nd to a moderate breeze, and the swell is still 2ft from the E. This is the standout period. The waves won’t be big, but the quality should be there. It’s a good option for intermediates, and crowds are only sometimes an issue, so you might get a few waves to yourself.

The end of the window, on July 25th and 26th, the swell picks up to 5ft to 6ft, but it’s short-period, windswell from the ENE (6-7 seconds). The energy is moderate (426 to 499), but that short period will make it choppy and messy. The wind is still cross-off, but it’s a fresh breeze. This is more of a hassle than a highlight.

So, the bottom line: This is a long wait for a small window. The best bet is July 20th to the 22nd. That’s where the long-period east swell meets clean conditions. It’s not a world-beater, but it’s the only real surf on offer. For the rest, you’re better off doing something else.

Rusty.

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