Oswald State Park/Short Sands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the forecast for Oswald State Park/Short Sands. Honestly, it’s a pretty grim run for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a long, dry spell on our hands. From Monday the 13th right through to the end of the month, the surf is looking poor. The swell is weak and messy, and the wind is a constant pain. For the first week, it’s all cross-onshore or cross-shore winds, with swell heights rarely getting above 4 feet. The combined wave energy is mostly moderate, but the quality just isn't there. It’s choppy and bumpy, not what you want to paddle out into.

There’s a glimmer of hope on the 16th and 17th with a bit of a longer-period groundswell (17-18 seconds), but it’s still crossed up and only gets a marginal call. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

The second week doesn’t get much better. The last week of July is a write-off with poor surf conditions and light winds but no decent swell. The swell gets bigger around the 22nd and 23rd, hitting 6 ft to 6 ft, but the wind is still cross-onshore, making it a choppy mess. The combined energy gets into the strong range, but it’s wasted.

Now, here’s the one bright spot. Look at Tuesday the 28th of July. The forecast is showing a 10 ft swell from the WSW with a 10-second period, and the wind is light and offshore from the west. The combined energy is a massive 1648, which is very strong. This is a big, powerful swell. But let’s be clear: at 10 ft, this is for experts only. The water is going to be a washing machine. For a beginner-friendly break like Short Sands, this is too big. It’s the standout on offer, but it’s a heavy, expert-only day if you’re brave enough to try it.

So, to sum it up: a whole lot of nothing until the very end. The 28th is your only real shot, and it’s for the crew who know what they’re doing in big surf. It’s a long wait for a single, heavy day.

Rusty.

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