Oswald State Park/Short Sands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, mates, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming down the line for Oswald State Park/Short Sands.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with ya—this is a tough run. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, messy surf with onshore or cross-shore winds. The water’s sitting at 58°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first week is a real bust. From Saturday the 8th right through to the end of the following week, it’s all poor surf conditions. Swell heights are mostly under 3 ft, with weak energy readings—mostly between 61 and 241 on the energy scale. The wind is a constant problem: cross-on or straight cross-shore from the NNW, blowing at 9 to 16 mph. That makes for choppy, wind-affected waves. The only flicker of hope is on Friday morning the 14th, where we get a light onshore breeze and a 3 ft swell from the WNW, but it’s still marginal—barely a paddle. That’s the best of a bad bunch, and I’d still say it's a long shot for a proper wave.

Now, hold on to your board shorts, because things get interesting in the second week. On Tuesday the 18th, we see a big jump in energy. Swell hits 6 ft to 6 ft from the WNW, with a solid 13-second period. The combined energy rockets up to 1252—that’s strong stuff. Wind is light cross-shore or cross-on, but at that size, the waves will be powerful. This is expert territory; the 6 ft surf will be too big for beginners. The long period means better shape, but at a beach break like this, it might close out a bit. Still, it’s the most significant push of the whole forecast.

Then, Wednesday morning the 19th is our standout. Swell drops to a more manageable 5 ft from the WNW, period at 11 seconds, and the energy is still strong at 584. The wind turns light cross-offshore from the SE. That’s clean, glassy conditions, boys. This is the morning to be in the water. Expect good shape, long lines, and a bit of breathing room between sets. It’s going to be good. After that, the swell fades back down through the rest of the week, with energy dropping and winds turning onshore again by Friday the 21st.

So, to wrap it up: the first week and a half is a write-off. The real action is on Tuesday the 18th for the big-wave crew, and Wednesday morning the 19th is the pick of the lot for anyone who wants clean, solid surf. Don’t expect much else.

Rusty.

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