Ranches Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down the same outlook but in feet and Fahrenheit.

The water temp is 80°, which is about normal for the time of year.

The first real day to look at is Sunday afternoon, August 2nd, at Ranches. It’s a reef break for advanced surfers, and it’s fairly consistent. We’ve got a 4ft swell out of the NE with a short period of 7 seconds, and a moderate offshore wind from the NE keeping it clean. The combined wave energy is moderate (267). It’s a start, but that short period means the waves won’t have much push.

From Monday, August 3rd, through to Saturday, August 8th, it’s a flat spell. Swell drops to 2ft or less, periods are short, and the energy is weak. There’s a glassy morning on Tuesday, August 4th, but with only 2ft of swell, it’s not worth a paddle. That’s a gap of about five days with nothing doing.

Then things get interesting. From Saturday afternoon, August 8th, we start seeing a long-period groundswell. The swell is only 2ft, but the period jumps to 18 seconds from the SW, and the energy is at 209 (moderate). That’s a very long period, so those waves will have serious shape and power, perfect for a reef.

The real build-up starts Thursday, August 13th. Thursday afternoon shows a 2ft swell from the W with a 16-second period and energy at 370 (moderate). Friday, August 14th, is even better: 2ft from the W, 15-second period, energy at 393 (moderate). The wind is a solid offshore breeze.

The standout is the weekend of August 15th and 16th. Saturday morning, August 15th, hits with a 5ft swell from the NE with an 8-second period. Energy jumps to 424 (strong). By Saturday afternoon, it’s a 2ft W swell with a 14-second period. The real peak is Sunday afternoon, August 16th, with a 5ft swell from the NE, 8-second period, and energy at 427 (strong). The wind is a moderate offshore. Sunday morning also shows 5ft. At 5ft to 5ft, it’s getting too big for beginners, but for the advanced crew, that’s a proper session. The crowd is "sometimes" so you might see a few others.

Monday, August 17th, stays solid with 5ft to 5ft, but the wind is a fresh 30 km/h offshore. That’s strong, but it’ll keep the faces glassy. Over 5ft, definitely for the experienced crew.

So, bottom line: The early part is a washout. Don’t bother. The second week, especially the weekend of August 15th and 16th, is the real deal. That’s your true standout. The long-period west swells mid-week are clean and have shape, but the NE swell on the weekend brings more size and power. If you’re an advanced surfer, that’s your window.

Rusty.

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