Scarecrows Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about what’s coming in for Scarecrows. This is a consistent reef setup that handles a southwest swell and needs a good wind window to really shine. Over the next week and a half, we’ve got plenty of size but tricky conditions for the most part.

Right out of the gate, Friday afternoon the 21st, the water temp here is sitting at 85°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, nothing unusual. But it’s cross-shore and choppy, with a 7ft SSW swell running at a long 16 seconds, so there’s plenty of energy in the water – the combined energy is reading 2667, which is well into that strong range. The problem is the wind, and it stays that way for a string of days.

Saturday morning the 22nd looks a bit cleaner with a cross-off wind and a touch more size at 7ft SSW, period still a solid 16 seconds, and the energy is 2322. That’s your best bet across this first group of days. Then from Saturday afternoon right through to Thursday the 28th, it’s mostly cross or cross-off breezes, and the wave comments keep flagging questionable tide or marginal surf. The swell does pulse again Monday afternoon the 24th with a 7ft SSW and energy up to 2080, but the wind is cross again and there are thunderstorms in the risk area. It’s just never quite lining up clean.

On Thursday the 27th, we get a really long-period SSW groundswell at 19 seconds, 3ft high in the morning, but the period is so long that at a beach or exposed reef, it can get a bit too straight – still, with only a light breeze, it’s paddleable and the energy is 1488. The afternoon picks up to 6ft at 18 seconds, still with gentle cross conditions. Not a standout, but there’s movement.

After a run of days where the wind is just a little off, we get a real shift late in the window. Sunday the 30th is small and clean in the morning – 3ft SW, 13 seconds, cross-off breeze, energy only 491 – but that’s a sign of things settling.

Then comes the real highlight. Monday the 31st of August morning shows a 5ft SW swell with 17 seconds, cross-off wind, clean, and the energy is 1524. That afternoon, it jumps to 6ft SW, 18 seconds, and glassy conditions – the combined energy is 2386, and the forecast says excellent surf for experienced surfers. Tuesday the 1st of September is the absolute peak: 8ft SW, 18 seconds, and glassy with the wind swinging cross-off in the morning and glass again in the afternoon. The energy numbers are huge – 3331 and 3236. That is the standout. This is a serious swell, over 8ft, so it’s for experts only, but the direction lines up with the optimum from the southwest, and the wind is as good as it gets. Scarecrows will be firing.

Wednesday the 2nd drops back to a clean 6ft SW with 16 seconds and light offshore wind in the morning, still very good, but the afternoon turns a little cross. After that, it fades pretty quickly. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th offer smaller clean waves with glassy or light offshore conditions – around 4ft to 4ft – but the energy drops below 1000. From Saturday the 5th onward, it gets small and only marginal.

So the real magic window is Monday the 31st afternoon and Tuesday the 1st of September. That’s your two-day standout, especially Tuesday morning and afternoon with glassy conditions and a proper groundswell. Don’t miss it, but know it’s for experienced crew only. If you’re not in that league, the Wednesday morning on the 2nd is still solid.

Rusty.

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