Redwood Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a gap. The forecast starts now, and there’s really nothing worth getting wet for until the morning of Wednesday, August 12th. That’s a solid week of flat or just plain poor conditions.

The one spot on the radar is Redwood Creek, a river mouth that’s exposed to the west. It rarely breaks, so you’re already up against it. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is about average for this time of year.

The first real glimmer happens on Wednesday morning, August 12th. We’ve got a 8ft swell from the NW with a period of 9 seconds – that’s decent groundswell energy. The combined energy is strong (1095), and with light offshore winds from the WNW, it’s going to be clean. These waves are pushing into the 8ft mark, so this is strictly for the experienced crew. The crowd factor is ‘often’, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

The standout session, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the afternoon of Wednesday, August 12th. The swell jumps to 12ft from the NW, period still a solid 9 seconds, and the combined energy is a very powerful 1902. Winds are light offshore from the NW. This is a big, heavy wave. It’s only for experts – over 8ft, you need to know what you’re doing. This is the best of the lot.

Thursday, August 13th, holds onto some size with 8ft from the NW in the morning, but the wind becomes a light cross-onshore from the WSW, so it won’t be quite as glassy. The energy is still strong (1004). Afternoon sees the same size, but again a light cross-onshore from the SW.

After that, the swell starts to fade. By Friday, August 14th, we’re down to 5ft, and it keeps dropping into the following week. The long period swells from the SW (16-18 seconds) show up on Saturday, August 15th, but the heights are tiny (2ft to 3ft), so even with that long period, there’s not enough water to push a wave. The rest of the window is a write-off with small, weak, and messy conditions.

To be honest, the whole setup is tricky. A river mouth that rarely breaks, consistent cross-onshore winds, and a lot of days where the score is just not there. It’s the kind of forecast that would make a kite surfer perk up on those windy, choppy days, more than a paddle surfer.

So, the takeaway: if you’re an expert and you’re itching, the afternoon of Wednesday, August 12th is your best bet. Otherwise, it’s a long wait for very little reward.

Rusty.

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