Salmon Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Salmon Creek.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this 16-day stretch is a tough one. The first surf that’s even worth considering doesn’t show up until Sunday the 16th, and even then it’s a marginal call at best. We’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands.

The water’s sitting at about 59° which feels pretty normal for this time of year, so no complaints on the temp front.

Sunday morning the 16th is where we start. We’re looking at a 3ft groundswell from the SW with a solid 16-second period – that's got some legs on it. But the wind is a light cross-shore from the SSW at 3 mph, and the report says it’s marginal, maybe tide-dependant. The energy is moderate at 559, so there’s something there, but don’t expect perfection. This is better suited for a bigger board and a patient attitude.

After that, it’s a long, bleak run. From Sunday afternoon all the way through to Tuesday the 25th, there’s hardly a single window that’s worth paddling out for. The wind is mostly onshore and howling from the WNW, constantly ruining what could’ve been. A few pulses of swell pop up – like Wednesday the 19th with a 5ft NW windswell and moderate energy (626) – but the wind is straight on at 6 mph and it’s all wrong. For the most part, this is a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one.

The first real standout of the whole forecast is a long way off. Keep your eye on Thursday the 27th. That morning, we’ve got a 7ft NW groundswell with a 9-second period. The energy is strong at 930, and while the wind is still onshore from the WNW at 9 mph, it’s light. The report calls it “marginal,” but this is the most promising it’s looked in weeks. That afternoon it jumps to 12ft from the NW with an even bigger energy reading of 1811 – but 12ft with onshore wind and the same 9-second period is going to be a washing machine. That morning session is the one for the experts.

Friday the 28th keeps the trend alive. Morning sees 7ft from the NW at a 10-second period with strong energy (1088) and a light 9 mph onshore wind. Again, not clean, but for Salmon Creek, this is as good as it gets in the long range. The afternoon bumps up to 8ft and the wind stiffens, making it less attractive.

Honestly, the second week is a mixed bag. The swell direction swings back to the SSW and SW by the 30th, with periods climbing back to 16 seconds, but the winds just won’t cooperate. The whole run is plagued by onshore flow from the WNW.

If you’re looking for a window, pencil in Thursday the 27th morning for a shot at some solid NW groundswell. It’s the closest thing to a highlight we’ve got, but with that onshore wind, it’s a gamble. For the rest of it, I’d say keep your gear dry and wait for the next forecast update.

Rusty.

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