Rhos-On-Sea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. It's been a tough run of it for the North Wales coast, and this forecast window isn't pulling any punches either. We're looking at a long stretch where the surf is going to be a no-show or just too weak to get excited about. The buoys are telling a story of a very quiet ocean, and the wind isn't doing us any favors for most of it. We've got a solid 16-day window to look at, but you're going to need a lot of patience.

The immediate outlook, from Friday the 31st right through the first few days of August, is pretty grim. We’re looking at flatness, with the swell energy reading at 0 for the first couple of days. The water here at Rhos-On-Sea is running at a balmy 66°, which is a solid 6° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a real anomaly, stick your head under and you'll feel it. There’s some cross-off wind, but with no waves to push around, it’s just flat and clean. Saturday isn't any better. Sunday afternoon sees a tiny ripple of 1ft from the NE with a period of just 3 seconds, and that's more of a lake ripple than a wave. It’s not going to break any hearts if you stay home.

The early part of next week is more of the same. Monday morning we might see a tiny 2ft from the ESE at 4 seconds, but the energy is only reading 14, which is just weak. The swell direction is also not what this point break wants to see. We'll see a brief moment of glassy conditions Monday afternoon, but that's with the swell dropping away to a pathetic 0.7ft. The pattern that emerges is just a whole lot of nothing, with wave heights from zero up to around 3ft. All of it is short period, mush-inducing stuff. It’s not even a case of it being too big for beginners; there is just nothing to ride.

We've got a serious lull in the middle of the week. From the 5th through the 7th, any swell that pops up is negligible, at 0.3ft to 1ft. The period stays down around 2 to 4 seconds, so there's no push, no power, nothing. The wind is a cross-shore or cross-off, which would be good for keeping it clean but is wasted on this flat ocean. It’s a great time to wash the car or maybe work on your paddle fitness because that’s all you'd be doing out there.

Now, looking ahead to the weekend of the 9th and 10th, there’s a tiny flicker of hope, but I have to warn you, it's a faint one. The energy starts to climb into the low 20s, and we see a bit of a pulse with waves in the 2ft to 3ft range. The period also pushes up to 5 seconds, which is slightly better but still far from ideal. The swell direction is from the NW, which is a bit better for the break. We'll see some proper glassy conditions with zero wind on these mornings. This is still marginal surf, but it’s about as good as it’s going to get for a while. Don't expect any barrels, but you might catch a soft, crumbly peel on a foamie or a longboard if you're keen.

The last few days of the window, from the 11th onward, just fizzle out again. The swell energy drops right back down and the period stays short. There are moments of cross-off winds in the mornings, but it's just another reminder that the ocean has shut down. By the 13th and 14th, we're back to flatness with light rain to add to the mood.

The bottom line, friends, is that there is no standout day on offer here. The best you can hope for is a knee-to-waist high, weak, but clean wave on the morning of the 9th or 10th of August. It's going to be a real test of your commitment, and honestly, if you live for green, lined-up waves, there's not much here. Rhos-On-Sea is inconsistent at the best of times, and this forecast shows why. This quiet spell is more normal than you'd hope for this area. The forecast can always change, so keep your eye on the charts, but for now, I’d be finding another hobby for a week or two.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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