Royal Palms State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s look at the same picture but in feet and mph. The outlook for Royal Palms State Beach is a rough one. It’s a sheltered reef and point that needs a SW swell and a NE offshore, but the forecast is a long, flat spell with mostly poor conditions. The wave energy is surprisingly strong at times – values like 282 (moderate) and even a 544 (strong) on the 23rd – but the quality just isn’t there. The water is a warm 69.8°, which is about 5.0° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s much warmer than normal, a real standout.

Right now, and for the first week, it’s a scratch. There’s tiny swell from the SW, but every session is marked as poor surf. The wind is a constant problem – mostly onshore or cross-onshore, with a few cross-shore days. The waves are tiny, under 2.6 ft, with a long period that’s all over the place, from 14 to 19 seconds. That long period should mean good shape, but with the wind and the size, it’s just messy. The 16th is a clean 1.3 ft SW swell with a 16-second period, but with a light onshore breeze and poor conditions, it’s a no-go. That’s the story all the way through the 22nd.

We see a slight bump on the 23rd with a 3.3 ft S swell, still a long 15-second period, but the wave comment is still ‘marginal’ at best. The wind is light onshore in the morning, so it’s the only flicker of hope in the first week, but I wouldn’t get excited. The energy is strong (544) but the quality is poor.

The second week is more of the same, but with a bit more size. The 25th of July morning shows a 3.6 ft SSW swell, with a 13-second period, and a light cross-onshore breeze. It’s still only marginal. The 26th and 27th mornings have a similar story – 2.3 ft to 3.0 ft SW swell, long periods around 18-19 seconds, and light onshore air. The energy is high (792 and 755 respectively), but it’s just not clean. The 28th morning has a cross-shore light breeze, which is a positive, but the 3.0 ft SSW swell is still in that marginal zone.

Honestly, there’s no standout day here. The best on offer is the 23rd of July Thursday morning with that 3.3 ft S swell and light onshore wind, but it’s a scrappy one. The 25th of July Saturday morning is the next best, with a 3.6 ft SSW swell and a light cross-onshore breeze. For a beginner spot, this is frustrating. The consistency is listed as ‘inconsistent’, and the crowds are ‘sometimes’. With the small size and poor quality, it’s not worth the drive. This setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

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