Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this out there. It’s a bit of a wild ride on the forecast, so let’s break down what we’re looking at.

The long story short? For the next week or so, Rolling Stones is going to be a messy, blown-out mess. There’s a lot of energy in the ocean, but it’s all coming in with a bunch of onshore and cross-shore wind, which is going to shred it all to pieces. We’re looking at a stretch of days with poor surf conditions and strong winds that are going to make it pretty much unrideable for anyone who wants a clean wave. We’re talking about a blank run that starts now and doesn’t let up for several days.

The first real chance to even think about getting wet is on Thursday, August 20th. The swell is still a decent size, around 10ft, and coming from the SSW, but the wind is still cross-shore and it’s a bit chunky. It’s a “marginal” call at best, a day to maybe be patient and pick off a cleanup set if you’re desperate. But it’s not where you want to be.

Now, we finally get our window. Friday morning, August 21st, is where it all changes. That’s the standout. The wind drops to almost nothing there – just a light offshore breeze from the NNW – and it’s looking glassy as. The swell is a clean 5ft from the south, and the energy is moderate (761). That’s the cleanest, most decent surf you’re gonna see here in a minute. It’ll be a bit fat and soft, but it’ll be clean and the crowd will be manageable. That’s the one to mark in the calendar.

Saturday, the 22nd, will see the swell ease a touch to 4ft, but it’s still glassy on the morning with light offshore winds and it’ll be super clean. A fun wave for a log or a fish if you’re just looking to get wet. The afternoon stays glassy as the wind goes calm.

After that, the surf drops off fast into next week. We’re looking at small, weak surf with onshore winds building again. There’s a little bump of swell on the 26th – about 5ft to 6ft – but it’s short period and you’ll need to be checking the cams because it’s not going to be clean. The long period groundswell from the south that came in around the 20th and 22nd, that’s the one you want to look for. Just remember, that kind of long-period swell can break a bit straight on a beach break, but this is a reef, and it should hold up fine.

There’s another little pulse of energy around Saturday, August 29th, with 6ft from the south, but it’s got a short period and cross-onshore wind that will likely turn it into a messy closeout.

So, for the tallies: The water is running a bit colder than normal, about two and a half degrees Fahrenheit colder for what you’d expect this time of year, so maybe throw on that extra layer. The whole period is pretty much a write-off until the 21st, and even after that, the follow-through is weak. If you can, get out Friday morning. It’s your best shot.

Stay sharp.

- Rusty

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