Slip Point (Clallam Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s in the water for the next couple of weeks.

First off, it’s a slow start. A real slow start. We’re looking at a gap of almost a week before there’s anything worth paddling out for. The swell is just not showing up, and when a little bump does appear, the conditions are messy. It’s one of those spells where you’re better off checking the tides or just waxing a board for the next window.

The first real whisper of surf comes on Friday, September 4th, but it’s weak. We’re talking about a 2ft swell from the west with a short period (9 seconds), and the wind is onshore. It’s not going to be pretty. The energy is low (83), so don’t expect any punch. This pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the first week and into the second – small, weak, and mostly messy.

There’s a bit of a tease on Wednesday, September 9th, with some cleaner conditions. The wind goes light and cross-off or glassy, and the swell bumps up slightly to 2ft from the west-northwest. The energy is still low (79), but it’s surfable. It’s *ordinary*, but it’s a paddle. The same goes for the mornings of September 10th and 11th – small, clean, but nothing to write home about.

The real standout, if you can call it that, doesn’t come until the second week. On Tuesday, September 15th, we finally see a jump in energy. The afternoon session shows a 4ft west swell with a 9-second period, and the wind is glassy. The combined energy hits 181 – that’s moderate, and it’s the first time we get some real push. The water temperature is about 54°, which is a good 4° colder than normal for this time of year. That’s a noticeable chill, so don’t forget a hood or a thicker suit.

The next morning, Wednesday, September 16th, is the best on offer. The swell holds at 4ft from the west, period at 9 seconds, and the wind is glassy again from the east-northeast. The energy is up to 217 – the strongest we see in the whole window. This is your window. It’s not huge, but it’s clean, and Slip Point (Clallam Bay) is a point break, so it’ll handle that west swell well. The best direction is west-northwest, and this is close enough. It’s a rare moment of quality in an otherwise flat outlook.

After that, things fade again. Thursday, September 17th, has a clean morning with a 3ft west-northwest swell and light cross-off wind, but the energy drops to 120. By Friday, September 18th, it’s flat again.

So, the bottom line: if you’re patient, the morning of September 16th is your best bet. Clean, glassy, chest-high waves with a bit of push. The rest of the period is either flat or very ordinary. Don’t get your hopes up for anything else.

Stay patient,
Rusty

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