Oswald State Park/Short Sands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. To be straight with you, this 16-day window is a tough one for Oswald State Park/Short Sands. The ocean is putting on a bit of a show energy-wise, but the wind and conditions just aren't playing ball for a decent paddle. There’s a lot of waiting involved.

The forecast kicks off with a bit of a shaky start. Sunday the 19th brings a 4ft swell from the WNW, but the cross-shore wind is howling at 16 mph, making it a choppy mess. The water is a chilly 55°F, which is a full 4°F colder than usual, so you’ll be wanting a thick suit. The combined energy is moderate (422), but the quality is poor.

Monday the 20th morning is a bit of a mystery with a marginal call, but the real bright spot is Monday afternoon. That’s the standout. We see a glassy 4ft WNW swell, with a light NW breeze at 3 mph. The conditions are expected to be good, and the combined energy is moderate (411). This is the cleanest window in the whole run, and it’s the one to aim for. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s a windswell, not the most powerful, but it’ll be fun on a longboard.

After that, the quality drops into a long gap of mostly poor or marginal surf. The swell holds up a bit, but the wind is a constant problem, mostly cross-onshore. Tuesday the 21st sees a shift to a long-period 16-second SW groundswell, but it’s small at 2-2ft and the wind is messy. Long-period groundswell like this needs a point or reef to work, and Short Sands is a beach break, so it’ll likely straighten out without much shape.

The energy picks up again on Friday the 24th with a moderate 502 reading from a 5ft NW swell, but it’s just a marginal call with cross-onshore breeze. The same story repeats into the weekend. By Saturday the 26th, we get a very long-period 20-second SW groundswell, but it’s only 2-3ft. The energy is actually strong (585), but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, ruining the surface.

The following week is a tough slog. From the 27th of July right through to the 3rd of August, every single session is rated as “poor surf conditions.” The swell stays small, and the wind is relentless from the NW and NNW. Late in the run, around the 3rd of August, the swell bumps up to 5ft from the NW, but with a strong 12 mph onshore wind, it’s just a messy, lumpy mess. The combined energy is strong (506), but it’s unsurfable. For that kind of setup, you’d be better off with a kite.

So, the call is simple. The one and only standout is Monday afternoon, the 20th of July. It’s the only time the stars align for good, clean surf. The rest of the 16 days is a long, frustrating gap of poor conditions. It’s a tough run, but that’s how it goes sometimes.

Rusty.

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