Salmon Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee and let me talk you through the next couple of weeks at Salmon Creek. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, and honestly, it’s going to take a good eye and some patience to pick the right windows.

Let’s start with the water. Right now, it’s sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than what we usually get at this time of year. Don’t skip the 4/3, especially if you’re heading out early or late.

The first real standout is a proper big-swell event on Sunday, August 2nd, in the morning. We’ve got a solid 10 ft NW swell rolling in, with a period of 9 seconds, and the wind is light from the WNW. That’s a glassy, clean look. The combined wave energy is massive—2382—so there’s plenty of power. But, and I have to say it, this is a lot of swell for Salmon Creek. It’s an advanced break, very consistent, and with that much NW swell, it’s going to be firing. This is for the experienced crew only; beginners, stay on the sand. The tide and wind are favorable, but the size is the issue. You’ll want to be on your game.

After that, the surf drops off pretty quickly. Monday through Wednesday, the swell drops to 3 ft to 6 ft, and the wind turns cross or cross-on, which puts a bit of a chop on the surface. The energy drops away too, down to a few hundred. It’s not a total write-off, but it’s marginal. The conditions are just average, and the tide might mess with the shape.

There’s a gap of a few days where the surf is small and we get some really long-period SW groundswell. On Thursday, August 6th, the swell is only 2 ft, but the period is 13 seconds, and by Friday, August 7th, the period hits 18 to 19 seconds. That’s a classic long-period groundswell. The problem is, it’s tiny. Combined energy is around 200-400, so it’s weak. Those long-period swells can be a bit tricky on a beach break too—they tend to break straight and close out. You’d be better off looking for a point or a reef setup with that kind of swell, but that’s not what we have here.

The real standout in the second week is Sunday, August 9th, in the morning. We’re looking at another 10 ft NW swell, with a 10-second period. The wind is light from the west, cross-on, but it’s still light and the water will be manageable. The energy is back up to 2799, which is huge. This is another one for the experts. It’s the same story as the first Sunday: big, powerful, and clean, but only for those who can handle it. Monday, August 10th, is similar, with a 10 ft NW swell and a clean, cross-off SSE breeze in the morning. That’s a solid window for the advanced crew.

The rest of the second week, from August 11th onward, the swell drops back to 3 ft to 6 ft, and the wind is mostly cross or onshore. The energy sits around 500-700, so it’s moderate, but the conditions are just not great. There’s a bit of a chop and the tide is always a factor. It’s not awful, but it’s not a session you’d drive across the island for.

Bottom line: If you’re an expert, you’ve got two clear windows: the mornings of August 2nd and August 9th (and maybe August 10th). Those are your big, clean, powerful days. For everyone else, it’s a lean couple of weeks. The long-period stuff in between is too small, and the wind is rarely on your side.

Rusty.

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