Putsborough Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: this 16-day window for Putsborough is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak, and messy conditions for the most part. There’s a solid run of surfable energy late in the second week, but it comes with a lot of wind and chop, so it’s not a simple call.

The water is sitting at a very warm 66° right now, which is about 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a proper anomaly, so you’ll be in boardshorts or a light spring suit for sure.

The first recommendation doesn’t come until Tuesday the 4th of August. Up until then, it’s a desert of tiny, wind-blown junk. From the 28th of July right through to the morning of the 4th, it’s a solid week of nothing worth paddling out for. The waves are too small, the wind is cross-onshore, and the energy is pathetic.

Tuesday the 4th of August morning offers a tiny glimmer. Putsborough sees a 2ft swell from the WSW with a period of 8 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the ESE, which will keep it clean. The combined wave energy is weak (55), so it’s only for the longboard or a foiler. It’s a “surfable but very ordinary” situation. Crowds are "often" here, so expect a few heads for these small leftovers.

The next real standout is a long way off, and it’s a bit of a wildcard. Monday the 10th of August brings a jump in size. The morning sees a 5ft WSW swell with a period of 9 seconds and moderate wave energy (333). The wind is cross-onshore from the WNW, so it’s going to be choppy and bumpy. The afternoon gets bigger, with a 5ft WSW swell and strong energy (552), but the wind stays onshore. This is a tricky one: the size is there, but the quality is poor. It’s borderline for the bigger, more powerful boards, but the chop will make it a battle.

Tuesday the 11th of August morning looks the best of a bad bunch. The swell drops to 4ft from the WSW, the period is a short 7 seconds, but the wind is light from the north, almost glassy. That’s the key. The energy is moderate (167). It’s not a classic, but that near-calm wind could make the small lumps clean enough for a fun session. The afternoon sees the swell jump to 6ft from the WSW with strong energy (378), but the wind swings back onshore from the WNW, making it a messy, choppy mess.

Wednesday the 12th of August is more of the same: a 5ft to 6ft WSW swell with moderate to strong energy, but it’s all cross-onshore, choppy, and poor.

So, if you’re desperate, the morning of Tuesday the 11th of August is your best bet. It’s the only time the wind truly cooperates with a bit of size. The swell direction from the WSW is what Putsborough likes, but the short period means it won’t have any real punch. For the rest of it, with the stronger onshore winds and moderate size, the setup looks more interesting for a kite session than a paddle. Don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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