Seaside Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's talk about what's in the water for the next couple of weeks at Seaside Reef. Honestly, it's a tough stretch. The whole 16-day window is looking pretty grim, with a lot of small, weak swell and mostly onshore or cross-onshore breezes. The water temperature is a wild 76°, which is about 8° warmer than usual for this time of year – feels like a hot tub, but the waves are a real letdown.

The pattern starts flat and stays flat for a long while. From Friday the 7th all the way through to the morning of Thursday the 13th, the surf is just plain poor. We're seeing combined energy readings between 301 and 442 (moderate energy), but it's all messed up by onshore winds. The swell is a tiny 2ft to 3ft on average, coming from the SSW with a very long period of 15 to 19 seconds. That long period (groundswell) is a bit of a tease – it's got some energy, but it's breaking straight on this reef, and the wind is killing any chance of a clean face. Not a single session worth paddling out for.

There's a small glimmer on the morning of Friday the 14th of August. The combined energy jumps to 581 (moderate to strong), and we get a clean offshore wind from the WNW. The swell is still a modest 2ft from the SSW, with a period of 18 seconds. It's only a marginal call – tide conditions might be off – but with the wind being offshore, this is the best you'll see. It's an advanced, inconsistent break, and it's often crowded, so you'll want to be on your game. That morning is the standout, but even then, it's a hope-and-a-prayer session.

After that, Saturday the 15th of August sees a bit more size – 4ft in the afternoon from the SSW, period 16 seconds, and a combined energy of 758 (strong energy). The wind is offshore from the W, but the whole thing is still flagged as marginal. The following Sunday the 16th is similar, with 4ft and a 15-second period, but it's a touch weaker. The rest of the window from the 17th through the 22nd just fades away back into poor conditions with small swell and inconsistent wind.

So, to be straight with you: the only real window of opportunity is the morning of Friday the 14th of August. It's a one-shot deal, and it's not a classic by any means. The rest of the 16 days is a write-off. For a spot like this, when the swell is weak and the wind is wrong, it's a tough slog. The forecasts can change, but right now, I'd say keep your board waxed and wait for something better.

Rusty

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