Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s happening at the Lighthouse (Point Judith Lighthouse). I’ll level with you, this 16-day run is a tough one to call for the usual paddle surfing. We’re not seeing much to get excited about, and the first real mention of anything comes on Tuesday, August 18th, but it’s hardly a classic.

Right out of the gate on Tuesday morning the 18th, there are surfable waves but the conditions are very ordinary. You’ve got a tiny 3ft swell from the SSE with a period of just 7 seconds. The wave energy is weak (77). The good news is the wind is glassy, light NE at 3 mph, so the water will be like a mirror. The water temp is sitting at 71°, which is pretty average for the time of year. Unfortunately, that’s the only window with a positive note. By Tuesday afternoon the wind swings around, and conditions drop off.

From Wednesday the 19th all the way through to the end of the month, the data is filled with "poor surf conditions". The swell hangs around in the 1ft to 4ft range, but the period is often short, under 8 seconds, and the winds are mostly cross or onshore, making for crummy, choppy surf. We see a slight pickup in combined energy towards the end of the month, like on Thursday the 27th when the energy reads 344, but it's accompanied by onshore winds and rain, so it's just messy.

A quick highlight appears on the morning of Sunday, August 30th. We get a 4ft swell from the SE with a very long period of 12 seconds and a strong combined energy of 441. The wind is a fresh 19 mph from the N, coming offshore and cleaning things right up. That could make for some clean, lined-up waves at the Lighthouse, as it’s a reef and point that can handle a longer-period groundswell well. But at that size, it’s getting a bit much for the beginners, and the wind is strong. It’s the best looking moment in the whole run, but it’s a short-lived window with strong winds.

After that, we roll into a flat and quiet first couple of days of September. The 31st and 1st offer some clean conditions with cross-offshore breezes but the swell is tiny, around 2ft, so it’s more of a log day if anything.

Honestly, with all the poor ratings and onshore chop dominating the forecast, and most days seeing weak wave energy in the double digits (under 100), this stretch looks way more promising for kite surfing than for a dedicated paddle session. For the most part, the setup is either too small, too chopped up, or the wind is wrong. If you’re really desperate, keep an eye on that Sunday the 30th, but don’t hold your breath. The blank runs are long in between.

Rusty.

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