Oyster Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about Oyster Bay. It’s an exposed sandbar setup, and this forecast is a real rollercoaster. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, but the wind and the size are gonna make it a tricky one for most of the time. You need to pick your moments.

The first real action kicks off on Wednesday the 19th of August. There’s a big, powerful 10-foot SW swell (2525 combined energy) rolling in with a 13-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. But the wind is a cross-onshore, and honestly, at 10 feet this break starts to get too big for the average punter. Morning is your best bet that day, but only if you’re an experienced surfer on a big board and know the sandbars.

Things get even more out of control on Thursday the 20th. The swell pushes up to 13 feet (5482 combined energy) Thursday morning, and it’s just too much raw power for this spot. The wind stays cross-onshore, so it’s a messy, blown-out beast. Not one to paddle out in.

We finally get a window of manageable surf on Friday the 21st. The swell drops to a much friendlier 8-foot SW (1644 combined energy) in the morning with a clean 12-second period. The wind goes cross-offshore from the ENE, which is a big tick. It’s clean. The score is only marginal though, meaning the conditions are only just there. It’s a solid option for an intermediate surfer after that big swell, but it’s not a standout.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are a write-off. The wind gets nasty, with a strong breeze on Saturday and then a big 12-foot swell on Sunday that’s still too big with a cross-on wind. Forget it.

Then, a real highlight pops up. On Tuesday the 25th of August, we get a morning with *glassy* conditions. Dead calm, 0 mph wind. The swell is a solid 10-foot from the SW with a 13-second period (2701 combined energy). That glass is a major positive – perfect, clean lines. The catch is that for most, 10 feet is still expert-only territory. It’s a good call for the charger, but the average surfer should stay on the beach and watch.

The best window for the experienced surfer comes right after. Wednesday the 26th of August is the standout of this entire 16-day period. We get clean, 7-foot SW swell (1491 combined energy) with a 13-second period in the morning, and the wind is pure offshore from the NNE. It’s described as excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The afternoon stays clean with the wind dropping to a slight air. This is the session to circle on your calendar. Perfect conditions, but it’s for the crew who can handle that size.

After that, the swell fades. Thursday the 27th is a write-off with cross-on wind and a messy 3-foot swell. Friday the 28th has a glassy 4-foot S swell (754 combined energy) in the morning. That’s a small, clean day for the log or a fun mid-length. It’s a decent, gentle option, but nothing to get excited about.

The second week sees the surf get chaotic again. A huge wind storm hits around the 30th and 31st of August with near gale-force winds and a big, messy 12-foot swell. That’s a total write-off, and frankly, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. There’s a brief blast of strong swell on the 3rd of September, but it’s 18 feet (12006 combined energy) – that’s monster, expert-only stuff and way too big for Oyster Bay.

Water temperature is pretty average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is Wednesday the 26th of August for the experts. For the rest of us, Friday the 21st and Tuesday the 25th (for glass) are the only windows that might offer a paddle. The rest of the forecast is mostly too big, too windy, or both. Pick your days carefully.

Rusty.

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