Palm Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty checking in with the surf outlook for Palm Beach. Let’s get into it.

The first real decent window kicks off on Friday, July 31st. We’ve got a solid 7ft south swell rolling in with a 10-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the SSW. The water’s sitting at 65°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The energy is pumping with a combined reading of 1299 (moderate wave energy), and it’s lining up with that optimum SE swell direction from the guidance. This is the standout of the whole run – clean, punchy, and perfect for experienced surfers. The morning session is where it’s at.

Saturday morning, August 1st, sees the swell drop to 5ft from the SSE, but the wind goes glassy by the afternoon with an ESE breeze. It’s a nice little window for beginners to get out, with clean, small waves. The energy drops to 396 (moderate wave energy), but the conditions are still fun.

Sunday, August 2nd, the swell holds at 5ft from the SSE, period stretching to 11 seconds, which is a bit longer and more groundswell-like. The morning is clean with a light N wind, but the afternoon turns into a choppy mess with a strong NE cross-on breeze. The morning is the pick, but it’s not a standout.

From Monday, August 3rd, through to Thursday, August 6th, the swell drops and rebuilds a bit. Monday morning has 3ft from the SE with clean cross-off wind, and Wednesday morning bounces back to 4ft from the S with offshore wind – both are clean but nothing to write home about. The energy levels are moderate, ranging from 143 to 596. The afternoon sessions are all blown out with cross-on winds, so stick to the mornings.

Friday, August 7th, the morning is clean with 4ft from the SSE, but the afternoon again gets messy. The energy is 240 (moderate wave energy), and it’s surfable, but nothing special.

The second week is a real snooze-fest. From Saturday, August 8th, all the way through to Friday, August 14th, the swell is tiny – mostly under 3ft, with periods dropping to 8 seconds or less. The energy is weak, with values like 130, 79, and even 20. There’s a few glassy mornings, like Sunday, August 9th, with 2ft, and Thursday, August 13th, with 2ft and zero wind, but it’s barely worth paddling out for. The wind is mostly offshore or cross-off, keeping the surface clean, but there’s just no push.

Then, on Saturday, August 15th, the forecast throws a massive curveball. A 16ft south-southeast swell, with an 11-second period, is predicted. The combined energy hits 5573 (strong wave energy), which is enormous. But this is way too big for Palm Beach – it’s a beginner-friendly break, and 16ft is only for experts. The wind is light and cross-off in the morning, so it’ll be clean, but the swell is simply too much. The afternoon turns into a choppy, cross-on mess. Unless you’re a pro, sit this one out.

Overall, the true standout is Friday morning, July 31st. That’s the one to circle. The rest of the run is small, clean, and ordinary, with a huge swell at the end that’s too big for the break.

Rusty out.

Read more