Royal Palms State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you about the local surf outlook for the next couple of weeks. It’s a tough one to call with a smile.

Right now, looking at the whole 16-day window, it’s a very quiet, drawn-out period with very little to get excited about. The only spot with any real data is Royal Palms State Beach, a sheltered reef and point break that’s best on a southwest swell. The water temperature is sitting at 71°, which is a whopping 6° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s seriously unusual, so you’ll be in shorts and a rashie with no worries there.

The first few days are a write-off. The wave energy is weak, with a combined energy reading of just 306 (moderate energy) on the Wednesday, but the wind is a messy cross-onshore, the swell is a tiny 2 ft, and the conditions are poor. Thursday and Friday are the same story – chop, cross-onshore breezes, and tiny waves. The swell period is a long 14 seconds to 26 seconds, which is big period groundswell, but that’s cruel, because it’s just producing knee-high lumps that can’t stand up in the wind.

We finally get a little window of hope on Friday, 31st July. The morning is glassy – dead calm, with a 2 ft SSW swell. The energy is low (228) but the clean face is the only saving grace. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. The break is inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting, and it’s a beginner-friendly spot, so if you’re learning, it’s a window. But don’t expect any power.

After that glimmer, it’s right back to the doldrums. The first week of August is the same as the start – tiny 2 ft to 3 ft waves, messy cross-onshore winds, and poor surf conditions. The energy drops from 376 down to 71 by the 6th of August. The swell period shortens to 6 seconds on the 4th, which is junk.

The standout? There isn’t a true one. If I had to pick the best of a bad bunch, it’s that Friday morning, 31st July at Royal Palms. Glassy, clean, and a tiny waist-high wave for the beginners. That’s the only time the wind is kind. The rest of the run is a write-off.

This is a 16-day stretch where the surf is mostly poor. It’s a long, quiet gap with very few windows. If you’re desperate, you might get a few longboard waves on the 31st, but otherwise, leave the board in the car.

Rusty.

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