Roads End Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s heading our way at Roads End over the next couple of weeks. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – it’s a pretty flat and frustrating run for a while, but there might be a little light at the end of the tunnel if you’re patient.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a long stretch with nothing to write home about. From now through mid-July, the surf is small and the conditions are just not cooperating. The first few days, starting Sunday the 5th, see a bump of messy, short-period swell coming out of the NW around 5 ft to 6 ft, but the wind is a stiff cross-shore from the NNW at 12 mph, and the wave energy is moderate (around 516 to 617). It’s just choppy, unattractive surf. The water temperature is a notable 55°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a good hood and gloves if you’re even thinking about it.

That pattern doesn’t really let up. Monday the 6th, the swell drops a little and the period jumps to 11 seconds, which is a decent groundswell, but it’s still cross-onshore and bumpy. The energy is picking up though (936). Tuesday through Thursday of that first week is a real letdown – wave heights barely top 3 ft, the period is long but the wind is on it, and the energy sits in the 500s. It’s small, weak, and messy.

The following weekend, Friday the 10th to Sunday the 12th, we finally see the wind turn offshore for a bit – a light WSW or W breeze at 3-6 mph. That’s a major positive for cleanliness. The swell stays small, around 2 ft to 5 ft, coming from the WNW. The energy is moderate (374 to 570). On Saturday the 11th morning we’ve got that light offshore wind and a 5 ft WNW swell with a 10-second period. It’s not a stand-out, but it’s the best looking window in the first half of the forecast for a beginner to give it a go, as the size is manageable.

Then we hit a real dead zone from Sunday the 13th through to about Thursday the 17th. Swell drops to 2 ft to 3 ft, mostly cross-onshore winds, and wave energy sinks as low as 217. The forecast scores are poor and frankly, so is the surf. It’s a week-long gap with no real recommendations, which is a bummer.

But hold on. Let’s jump ahead to Saturday the 18th. This is the one that catches my eye. The morning shows a solid 6 ft NW groundswell with a period of 10 seconds and a strong, moderate wave energy of 1009. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the NNW at 9 mph, which will keep things fairly clean. This is the best on offer for the whole outlook. The swell direction (NW) lines up with the break’s optimum W exposure, and the size is pushing into intermediate territory. It could get a bit busy, as crowds are sometimes an issue here. Sunday the 19th still has some size (5 ft) but the wind picks up and the period drops to 8 seconds, making it a lot less appealing. The week after that trails off completely into tiny, poor surf.

So, to wrap it up: slog through a lot of mediocrity for the next couple of weeks. The one date to circle is Saturday, July 18th, for a morning surf at Roads End. It’s not perfect, but it’s the biggest, cleanest window we’ve got.

Rusty.

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