Oswald State Park/Short Sands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' over the next couple of weeks at Oswald State Park/Short Sands.

Honestly, it's a bit of a rough start. The first few days are looking pretty flat and messy. We've got a long stretch here, from Thursday the 23rd right through to the end of the month, where the surf is just not cooperating. There's a bit of energy in the water, but it's all weak and poorly directed, with combined energies barely cracking into the moderate range (280-751). The wind is mostly cross-onshore, chopping everything up, and despite some decent swell periods coming through from the SW, it's just not happening for us. The waves are tiny, under 3ft, and the conditions are described as "poor" or "marginal." It's a tough run.

Things start to look a little more interesting as we move into August. The first couple of days of the month are still rough, with a NW windswell showing up on Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd, but it's a short-period, 7-second junk, and the wind is still on it. That's more of a kite-surfing breeze than a clean paddle session.

Now, the real highlight of this outlook is shaping up for the second week. We're looking at a solid NW groundswell developing around Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th of August. The swell height pushes up to 6ft to 7ft, with periods climbing to 9-10 seconds. The combined energy gets strong, hitting 976 on Thursday morning. This is the kind of swell that will get the blood pumping. The catch is the wind is still a bit onshore or cross, but the energy is there. For a beach break, this long-period groundswell can sometimes make it a bit tricky, but Short Sands can handle it.

The best of the best, the standout session, is Thursday morning, the 6th of August. We're looking at a 7ft swell from the NW, with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a solid 976, showing there's some serious power in the water. The wind is a gentle breeze from the NW, which is cross-onshore, but it's light enough that it shouldn't ruin the shape completely. This is the one to circle on the calendar. It's a couple of weeks out, so don't hold me to it, but it looks promising. For the more experienced crew, the swell will be pushing into the 6ft+ range, so it's a step up from the usual.

The water temperature is a bit chilly, running about 56°F, which is a full 3°F colder than usual for this time of year. You'll definitely want a good wetsuit for this one.

So, to wrap it up, the first week is a write-off. Stay patient. The real action, the only real action worth getting excited about, is that Thursday morning, August 6th. Go get it.

Rusty.

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