Oswald State Park/Short Sands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – looking at the next 16 days for this stretch of coast, it’s a tough run. The forecast shows a lot of messy, onshore wind and choppy conditions, so don’t expect any magic. There’s a long gap of poor surf right through the first week and into the second week. The first real glimmer of something rideable doesn’t show up until Thursday, August 13th, and even then it’s a marginal call.

The Full Breakdown

From now through Wednesday, August 12th, it’s a write-off. We’re stuck with cross-onshore winds from the NW and NNW, gusting up to 12 mph, and the swell is a weak, short-period mess. The wave energy is pathetic, and the surf is just choppy and ugly. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing weird.

The first chance to get wet comes Thursday morning, August 13th. Oswald State Park/Short Sands gets a bump to 6 ft from the NW with a 9-second period, and the wind swings offshore from the WNW at 6 mph. The combined energy is moderate, which is the most punch we’ve seen. But the condition is still "marginal," so don’t expect perfection. The swell direction is NW, but the optimum is SW, so it’s not hitting the spot perfectly. Still, it’s the best looking window in the whole run. Crowds are "sometimes" here, so you might have company.

Friday morning, August 14th, is another shout. Swell holds at 6 ft from the WNW, period at 9 seconds, and again that offshore wind from the WNW at 6 mph. The combined energy is moderate. It’s a similar story – a bit of size, clean wind, but it’s not a standout wave. The period is short, so it’ll be a bit soft and crumbly.

Then the wind goes cross-onshore again, and we’re back to poor surf right through the rest of the week and into the weekend. The water drops a bit, but nothing extreme.

For a real surprise, look at Monday, August 17th. The morning goes glassy – zero wind from the SW – and we get 4 ft from the NW. The combined energy is weak, but the glassy conditions mean the surface will be perfect. It’s marked as "expect good surf conditions," which is the only time we see that phrase. The wave period is still short at 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit fat, but for a clean, mellow session, this is the hidden gem. Crowds are "sometimes," so it could be a peaceful one.

After that, Tuesday and Wednesday fade back into the wind and chop. The final day, Thursday, August 20th, sees a long-period 12-second swell from the WNW at only 1 ft – too small to do anything with, and the wind is light cross-onshore.

The Bottom Line

Honestly, this is a rough patch. If you’re desperate for a paddle, the best bet is the morning of Thursday, August 13th, or Friday, August 14th, for the cleanest wind and the most size. But the real sleeper is Monday, August 17th, when the glassy morning could give you a few clean, lazy lines. Just don’t expect any barrels.

Rusty.

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