Salmon Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Salmon Creek.

The outlook is a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. Most of the time, the surf is either small or blown out, so we’ve got to pick our moments. The water temperature is sitting at 56°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet is on Saturday afternoon, the 18th of July. We’ve got some knee-high, 3ft swell rolling in from the WNW, with a long period of 16 seconds, giving it that groundswell feel. The wind is light and offshore from the west at 6 mph, so the surface should be clean. The combined swell energy is moderate (707). It’s not pumping, but it’s a start.

Sunday morning, the 19th, is a bit of a letdown. The swell drops to 2ft, and the wind swings to a cross-onshore from the WSW at 3 mph. It’s light, but it’s messing up the face. The period is still long at 15 seconds, but the energy is moderate (607). It’s marginal.

The pattern continues through Monday and Tuesday: small swell, 2ft to 3ft, with cross-onshore winds. The combined energy stays in the moderate range (451–614), but the quality just isn’t there. By Tuesday afternoon, the wind picks up to 12 mph from the WNW, and the conditions turn poor.

From Wednesday the 22nd through the end of the week, it’s mostly a write-off. Winds are onshore, swell is small, and the combined energy (415–517) is weak to moderate. Thursday afternoon sees a weird spike to 6ft from the NW, but with a short period of 6 seconds and strong onshore winds at 16 mph, it’s a mess. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.

The following week shows a bit more energy, but the wind stays a problem. The swell size stays around 3ft to 4ft, with long periods (17–24 seconds) generating moderate to strong combined energy (841–1681). However, the wind is almost always onshore, gusting up to 19 mph, keeping the surface bumpy. For the most part, the conditions are poor.

The standout window, and I mean the only real standout, is looking like Wednesday morning, the 29th of July. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the SW with a 16-second period, and the wind is light and offshore from the west at 6 mph. The combined energy is strong (1229). This is the cleanest window in the whole forecast. The sets will be long and lined up, but with that long period, it might be a bit too straight for the beach break—still, it’s the best shot we’ve got.

Then, on Sunday morning, the 2nd of August, the swell jumps to 10ft from the NW, but with a short period of 8 seconds. The wind is onshore at 9 mph. The combined energy is very strong (1205), but frankly, that’s too big for this break unless you’re a real expert. The forecast says it’s too big, and I’m inclined to agree. It’s a pass for most.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is Wednesday morning, the 29th of July, with clean conditions and a solid groundswell. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too messy to get excited about. Keep an eye on the long-range, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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