Slaughterhouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a sit-down about what’s on the menu at Slaughterhouse. We’re looking at a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, so let’s break it down.

Right from the start on Monday the 14th, it’s not looking great with tiny 2ft cross-shore slop and a moderate breeze. The water’s sitting at a toasty 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The first few days are a write-off for any decent paddle, so don’t bother rushing down. The mid-week Tuesday and Wednesday show a bit of size coming in (4ft to 5ft), but it’s still messy and the wind is a cross-off breeze that’s just strong enough to put a chop on it. The combined energy is weak (69 to 410), meaning not much push behind it.

Things start to get a little interesting heading into Thursday the 17th. The swell jumps to 7ft–8ft, period drops to a short 9 seconds, and energy climbs into moderate territory (775). But the wind is a fresh 19–22 mph cross-off, and the wave comment flags it as marginal at best. This is not clean, lined-up surf – it’s a bumpy, short-period mess. Definitely not one for the log.

Friday the 18th through the weekend is more of the same: 6ft–7ft of short-period E/ENE windswell with stiff cross-off breezes. The combined energy stays in the moderate 400–550 range. Honestly, this stretch looks more like a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one – the strong cross-off wind and short-period chop will mean a bumpy, blown-out surface. Beginners should steer clear, especially with the swell over 5ft. There’s a gap of several days here where I wouldn’t recommend anyone paddle out for quality waves.

Now, here’s where the outlook gets a little more interesting. Tuesday the 22nd sees the swell building to 8ft–8ft, with period stretching to a better 9 seconds on the afternoon, and the combined energy jumps into the strong range (814–1103). The wind is still strong cross-off at 22 mph, though, so it’s a wild, powerful, bumpy day – only for experienced surfers on a bigger board, and even then, expect challenging conditions.

The real standout of the entire outlook is Wednesday the 23rd. The morning offers a solid 8ft swell from the east, with a long period of 11 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. Combined energy is very strong at 1418, meaning there’s plenty of push. The wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-off, so it won’t be glassy, but it will be cleaner than the days prior. The longer period means longer lulls between sets, making it easier to get out the back, but at a beach setup, the long-period east swell can get a bit straight and fat. This is the day for bigger boards and a confident paddle. The marginal rating is spot on – it’s a challenge, but the potential is there for some heavy, powerful waves if you’re skilled enough.

After that, we see a steady drop-off into the weekend of the 26th and 27th, with smaller 5ft–6ft short-period swells, and the wind hanging around in the fresh cross-off range. Combined energy drops back to moderate to weak (287–492). It’s a poor run of surf, and I’d say we’re looking at a quiet finish to the 16-day window. The only faint glimmer is Monday the 28th afternoon, with 7ft ENE swell and 8 seconds, and moderate energy (599), but still marginal.

The very last entry for Tuesday the 29th afternoon shows a surprising 7ft ENE swell with a light 6 mph cross-off breeze and a cleaner, glassy-like surface. Combined energy is moderate (670) and the wave comment says expect very good surf conditions. This is a long-range call, so take it with a pinch of salt, but if it holds, that afternoon could be the best window of the whole outlook – clean, manageable size, and lighter winds.

Best on offer: Wednesday the 23rd morning for the most power and size, but you’ll need to be on your game. Tuesday the 29th afternoon is a promising long-shot for a cleaner, more fun session.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the wind, and don’t force it on the windy, bumpy days. It’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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