Ranches Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at the run ahead, just one spot on the menu.

Right now, there’s nothing doing today, Monday the 17th of August. It’s flat with a tiny 3 ft NE swell but the energy is weak, only measuring 64. Wind is fine but the surf is ordinary. The next few days are pretty lackluster with small waves and mostly poor conditions. We’ve got a real quiet spell from Tuesday through to the end of the week and into the weekend with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The wait is on.

Now, Wednesday the 19th sees a blip in the morning – a glassy 2 ft SW groundswell with a very long 16-second period. The energy jumps to 163, so there’s some push, but it’s tiny and might just be a ripple at the reef. That afternoon it goes quiet again.

The first true standout comes on Thursday morning the 20th. The swell is still small at 2 ft out of the SW, but the period is a very long 18 seconds, pushing the combined energy up to 278 (moderate). It’s glassy with no wind – dead calm. This is a reef break (Ranches) exposed to the NW, so that long-period SW groundswell will wrap in nicely. For an advanced crew, this is clean and drawn-out. Water temp is about average for this time of year.

After that, it’s back to a poor run of tiny surf and cross-onshore winds until Sunday the 23rd afternoon, when a clean 3 ft NE windswell arrives with a decent 122 energy. Monday the 24th looks similar – small but clean with a moderate offshore breeze.

A real ramp-up starts on Wednesday the 27th afternoon. The swell builds to 5 ft from the NE, period at 6 seconds, but the energy is 242 – moderate. Clean with a cross-off breeze. Then Thursday the 28th is a proper highlight: Friday morning (28th August) we have 6 ft NE swell, period 7 seconds, energy at 387 (strong!), with glassy conditions. That afternoon the swell drops slightly to 6 ft but the period lengthens to 8 seconds, and the energy jumps to 504 (strong), again glassy. This is the best on offer. For advanced surfers only at this size and with that energy – it’ll be powerful and fast. Crowds are possible at Ranches, especially when it’s this good.

Saturday the 29th afternoon keeps the fun going with a 5 ft NE swell, an 11-second period, and combined energy of 687 – very strong – with a moderate offshore wind. Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st hold clean conditions as the swell backs down. Into the first week of September, it looks to drop off again.

Overall, the standout is Thursday the 28th of August, with glassy conditions and strong swell energy. Don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

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