Scarecrows Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks for Scarecrows. This reef break is exposed to the swell, and with an optimum direction from the SW, we’re looking at a period that starts with some solid, but tricky, surf.

The water is sitting at a warm 85°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The pattern kicks off with a solid pulse of long-period SSW groundswell. Friday the 7th starts a bit messy with a moderate cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is up around 7ft with a very long 18-second period. The combined energy is a solid 2814 (moderate wave energy), meaning there’s plenty of push. This is advanced territory at over 7ft, and the long period will make it wall up nicely on the reef, but the tide and wind conditions might keep it from being perfect. Saturday morning the 8th still has a bit of cross-shore wind, but by Saturday afternoon, get ready. The wind drops to glassy, the swell is a clean 7ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the energy is still strong at 2176 (moderate wave energy). That’s the standout in the early part of the forecast – a glassy, powerful reef break that’s clean and lined up. The cross-offshore wind returns on Sunday morning, keeping it clean for experienced surfers.

There’s a lot of energy in the water through the middle of the week. Monday the 10th sees the swell dip a little, but the period is still a very long 20-21 seconds, which is a classic groundswell. The energy is still moderate (2392-2826), but the wind is a bit cross-shore. Tuesday the 11th morning is a beauty: clean, cross-offshore wind, and a solid 8ft SSW swell with a 17-second period. The combined energy jumps to 3918 (moderate wave energy), making it a serious option for the crew who can handle it. The rest of that week stays consistent, with solid 7-7ft swell and clean mornings, though the afternoon winds tend to get a bit cross-shore.

Now, for the second week, things get a little more ragged. The swell hangs around, but the wind is often cross or cross-onshore, making it a bit choppier. There’s a big spike on Thursday the 20th with a 10ft SSW swell and a massive 6198 (strong wave energy), but it’s coming with a moderate breeze. At 10ft, this is expert-only territory, and the cross-shore wind will make it a challenging, bumpy beast. That’s not the best option for a clean ride. The Friday morning after that, the 21st, looks cleaner with a 8ft SW swell and a cross-offshore breeze, giving it a much better shape for the experts.

Honestly, the one true standout is that Saturday afternoon, August 8th. Glassy, 7ft, long-period SSW, and the reef handling it. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The Tuesday morning, August 11th, is a close second, with clean wind and a bigger swell.

If you’re a beginner, be careful. Most of this period is over 5ft, and anything over 8ft is for experts only. The long periods (often over 15 seconds) mean the sets will be powerful and the gaps between them longer, so the paddle out is easier, but the wave itself is a lot more critical.

Signing off, Rusty.

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