Sandy Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s call it like I see it – Sandy Beach is looking at a rough two weeks. That cross-shore wind is going to be a constant headache, messing up anything that could be good. The water’s sitting around 80°, so pretty normal for the season.

The first bit of surf shows up on Thursday afternoon, August 6th. We’ve got a tiny 1ft swell from the south-southwest, with a 14-second period. That’s a long-period groundswell, which usually means good shape, but the energy is only moderate (198). The wind is a fresh cross-shore from the east-northeast at 19 mph, making it lumpy and choppy. It’s poor.

Friday the 7th is the same story: 1ft SSW swell, moderate energy, cross-shore wind. No good.

Saturday the 8th sees the swell jump to 5ft - 5ft, but it’s short-period wind swell from the east-northeast at only 6-7 seconds. The energy picks up (314 to 352), but the wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-shore. Total chop.

From Sunday the 9th through Tuesday the 11th, the swell stays in the 5ft to 6ft range, all short-period ENE wind swell. The energy gets strong (up to 624), but it’s all wind-driven junk. The wind stays cross-shore, fresh to strong. Nothing clean.

Wednesday the 12th brings a change. We get a 3ft swell from the south, but with a very long period of 18 seconds. The energy is strong (864). That’s a proper groundswell. But the wind is still a fresh cross-shore, so it’ll be frustrating to watch.

Thursday the 13th has a similar deal: 4ft - 4ft from the south, long period (15-16 seconds), strong energy (924 and 819). But the wind is cranking at 22-25 mph, cross-shore. The surface will be ugly.

From Friday the 14th all the way to Wednesday the 19th, the swell builds to 6ft - 8ft, all from the east-northeast, with short periods (7-8 seconds). The energy is strong (up to 879). But the wind is relentless – 19 to 28 mph, always cross-shore. For a beach and reef setup, this is kite-surfing weather, not a surfer’s paradise. It’s all poor.

This pattern keeps going through the 21st. The only tease is on Thursday afternoon, August 20th, when a 2ft swell from the south-southwest with a 21-second period shows up. The energy is solid (449). But again, the wind is fresh cross-shore.

I can’t find a single standout moment in this whole 16-day outlook. Every single day is marked as “poor surf conditions” because of that nasty cross-shore wind. The swell is there, but the wind kills it. Don’t bother with a paddle board – bring a kite.

Rusty.

Read more