Royal Palms State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get real for a second. The next couple of weeks are looking punishingly flat. I've looked at the whole 16-day stretch and there's just nothing worthwhile on the table. It's a dry spell, no two ways about it.

The only spot with any info is Royal Palms State Beach. It's a sheltered reef and point that needs a solid south-west groundswell to come alive, and we're just not getting one. The wave energy is weak, stuck mostly between 140 and 345, which means there's no power behind anything. We're talking waves in the 1 to 3 feet range for the entire period. That's not a wave, that's a ripple.

The wind is a constant enemy too. It's almost always cross-onshore or straight onshore, which will chop up any little crumble we might get. There are a few moments with a light breeze, but they still have that bad angle. The swell period is mostly in that 13-18 second range, which is okay, but with this little swell, it doesn't help. It just won't break with any kind of punch.

The water temp is about normal for this time of year, so at least you won't freeze, but that’s the only positive.

With the swell this weak and the wind this bad, this spot looks far more interesting for a kite surfer than for a paddle surfer. If you’ve got a kite, you might get some rides, but for a normal surfer, it's a complete no-go.

The first few days, the 10th and 11th of August, are a total bust. Then there's a slight bump in the swell around the 15th and 16th, but it's still under 3 feet and the wind is just as bad. It's a lot of waiting for nothing.

The second week brings no relief. The swell stays tiny, and while there are a few mornings with lighter breezes, the onshore sea breeze always kicks in and messes it up. The last day I see, the 25th of August, has a slightly longer period and a touch more energy, but it's still a small, choppy mess.

So, bottom line, there are no good surf options in this 16-day window. It's a flat patch. The only silver lining is that this spot is known to be inconsistent, so a blank run like this is more normal for the area. It won't stay this bad forever, and forecasts can change. Keep your board ready, keep watching the charts, and be ready to go when something finally shows up.

Rusty.

Read more