Roads End Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. The next 16 days at Roads End are looking like a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. We’ve got some pulse in the water, but the wind and conditions are going to be the real story. Don’t go expecting any classic, glassy perfection, but there are a few windows where it could be worth a paddle.

The water is running at a chilly 53°F right now, which is a massive 6°F colder than normal for this time of year. That’s a standout in itself – you’ll want a good thick wetsuit, no question. That cold water anomaly is a big deal.

We kick things off with a bit of a slow burn. Tuesday the 14th is a write-off with tiny 2ft W swell and a cross-on breeze. Not worth getting out of bed for. Wednesday the 15th is similar, still small and messy. The combined swell energy is weak to moderate (362-382), but the waves are just too small and chopped up to be fun.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Thursday the 16th. The swell is still only 2ft to 2ft from the WNW, but the wind swings offshore in the afternoon. That’s a proper clean-up crew. The swell period is long, around 18-19 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. That means the sets will be clean and lined up, but with those long gaps between them. It’s small, but it’ll be the cleanest surf of the early week. Energy is moderate (462-490).

Friday the 17th sees a bump in energy (743-761) with the swell pushing 3ft, but the wind stays cross-on, so it’s going to be a crumbly, choppy affair. Not the best.

Now, here’s the period to circle on your calendar. Saturday the 18th. The swell is 5ft from the NW, and the wind is a clean cross-shore. The combined energy is strong (865-912). This is the biggest, most powerful surf of the whole outlook. It’s a bit of a lumpy start in the morning with that cross-shore, but it’s still the best combination of size and manageable wind we’ve got. With the swell direction from the NW, it’s right on the money for Roads End. This is the standout window for the first week. Sunday the 19th is a step down in size, but still 5ft to 6ft from the NW. The period drops to a short 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and less powerful. The wind is cross-on, so it’s marginal.

Monday the 20th holds similar size (5ft) but the wind stays cross-on. It’s a bit of a grind. Then, after Monday, the swell starts to fade. Tuesday the 21st drops right off to 2ft, and the wind stays cross-on. The rest of the second week is a bleak stretch of small, weak surf. From Wednesday the 22nd through to Wednesday the 29th, the swell is mostly 1ft to 3ft, and the wind is almost always onshore or cross-on. The combined energy values are moderate to weak (140-580). The consistency is poor, and the conditions are mostly poor. There are no real standouts in this second week. It’s a long, quiet run.

So, to wrap it up: the best of the bunch is Saturday the 18th. That’s the day with the most size (5ft NW) and the most manageable cross-shore breeze. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only day with decent power and a shot at a few clean ones. If you’re keen, that’s the time to go. For the rest, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more