Oswald State Park/Short Sands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I've got the lowdown on the local surf scene, just for you. Let's get into it.

The next couple of weeks are looking like a real mixed bag. We've got a persistent run of onshore and cross-onshore winds that are really messing with the quality. The swell is coming in, but it's mostly windswell, short period, and the conditions are just not cooperating. The water is sitting at 56°, which is a solid 3° colder than usual for this time of year, so a thick wetsuit is a must.

To start things off, we've got a bit of a wait. The first real chance to even look at the water is Thursday, July 16th at Oswald State Park/Short Sands. Don't get too excited though. It's a marginal morning with a tiny 2ft swell out of the west, but with a very long 19-second period. That's a groundswell, but it's so small and the combined energy is only moderate (430). The wind is a light cross-shore, which is better than what we've been seeing, but it's still pretty weak. The afternoon only gets worse.

We pick up a bit more size on Friday, July 17th. The morning has a 3ft swell from the WNW with a 17-second period, and the combined energy is climbing (578). The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it's still a bit bumpy, but this is the best it's going to get for a while. It's a marginal call, but it's the only window we've got that's semi-clean.

After that, the wind cranks from the NNW. Saturday and Sunday see swell build to 4-5ft, but the wind is a moderate to fresh cross-onshore, making it a choppy mess. The wave energy is strong (over 600), but for paddle surfing, it's a write-off. Honestly, if you've got a kite, those afternoons from the 18th onwards might be your only play.

The pattern continues into the next week. Monday, July 20th morning sees a 5ft swell from the WNW with a light onshore wind, keeping it marginal. The wind turns more onshore in the afternoon, and the quality drops right off.

The second week is a similar story. Swell stays small, mostly under 3ft, and the wind is persistently cross-onshore from the NW. There's a bit of a pulse of long-period SW swell on the 25th and 26th, but it's small (2-3ft) and the wind is still up. The combined energy does get up to a strong 652 on the 27th, but it's all cross-onshore, so it's not going to be pretty.

The honest truth is, there isn't a single standout session in this 16-day window. The conditions are just too messy. For a beginner, that 3ft on the 14th and 15th would be fine size-wise, but the cross-onshore wind is going to make it a frustrating paddle. For the more experienced crew, the swell on the 20th might be the closest to something rideable, but it's still a lot of work for a poor-quality wave.

Keep an eye on the long-range forecasts, because it can't stay this poor forever. But for now, I'd be looking at other hobbies.

Rusty.

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