Oswald State Park/Short Sands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – if you’re looking to get wet at Oswald State Park/Short Sands over the next 16 days, you’re gonna have to be patient. The forecast is a long, tough stretch of poor surf conditions, with a few days that are marginal at best. There’s really no standout session in the whole window, but let’s walk through the scraps on offer.

The water is sitting at a shocking 53°F – that’s 6°F colder than usual for this time of year, which is very unusual. You’ll want a thick wetsuit and a hood, no joke.

The first potential window to even bother looking at is Friday, July 17th. The morning brings some clouds, a weak 3ft WNW swell, but here’s the kicker – it’s sporting a long 17-second period. That’s groundswell energy, but it’s weak, with combined energy of 709 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-shore from the SSW at 9 mph, which is okay, but with a score of just 1/10, it’s a real marginal call. The afternoon is a little better – a light 6 mph offshore wind from the W cleans things up for a 2ft WNW swell (16-second period, 606 energy). Still, it’s only a 2/10, and for a beginner spot, this is thin ice.

Saturday, July 18th morning is the next sniff. A 4ft WNW swell, but it’s short-period at 9 seconds and cross-on wind from the NW at 9 mph. Energy is moderate (600), but the chop is going to wreck it. Only a 1/10.

The next week – from Sunday, July 20th through to Thursday, July 24th – is a desert. Mostly 4ft to 5ft WNW swell, but all of it is short-period (8-9 seconds) and cross-on wind. The combined energy stays moderate (300-400 range), but the wind is always putting a chop on it. Not worth paddling out.

Then on Friday, July 24th, things get a little more interesting. The morning brings some clouds, a 6ft NW swell (9-second period, 563 energy) with a light WSW cross-on at 6 mph. That’s a 2/10. The afternoon pushes that swell to 6ft NW (9 seconds, 697 energy), with a light 6 mph offshore wind from the W. That’s the biggest swell of the whole outlook, but at 6ft it’s starting to get too big for beginners. The wind is clean, but the period is short, so don’t expect much shape. Still a 1/10, but it’s your best chance if you’re an experienced surfer.

Saturday, July 25th morning is the last marginal glance – 5ft NW swell (9 seconds, 500 energy), light SW cross-on at 6 mph. A 2/10. After that, it’s back to poor surf until the end of the window on July 28th.

Bottom line: There’s no true standout here. The pick of a bad bunch is Friday afternoon, July 24th, at Oswald State Park/Short Sands, with a 6ft NW swell and light offshore wind. The swell is short-period and the combined energy is moderate (697), but it’s the biggest, cleanest wave you’ll get. If you’re an expert, give it a go. Beginners, stay home.

Rusty.

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