Slip Point (Clallam Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for the Strait.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty grim. We’ve got a massive cold water situation here. The water temperature is sitting at 52°F right now, which is a whopping 6°F colder than usual for this time of year. That’s a serious chill, so if you’re paddling out, you’re gonna want a thick suit, boots, and probably a hood. As for the waves? There’s honestly nothing on offer for the first few days. Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th are a total write-off with zero energy and poor conditions.

The first tiny sign of life shows up on Monday morning, July 20th, at Slip Point (Clallam Bay). We’re talking a weak 3ft swell from the WNW, with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is only 112 (moderate), so it’s barely breaking. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the East, which keeps things clean, but the waves are just too weak and ordinary to get excited about. Honestly, it’s a skunk session unless you’re desperate.

We get a tiny bump on Tuesday morning, July 21st, with glassy conditions and a cross-offshore breeze from the ENE, but the swell drops to a measly 2ft. The energy is pitiful at 44 (weak). It’s pretty, but there’s nothing to ride.

The rest of that week into the end of July is a flat spell. We’ve got a stretch of completely dead days from the 22nd through to the 2nd of August. A few days pop up with 2ft to 3ft waves, but the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, making it choppy and messy. The energy is low, and the wave comment says “poor surf conditions” every time. Not worth paddling out.

Now, here’s the one glimpse of hope. After a long, dry spell, we get a pulse on Monday morning, August 3rd. The swell picks up to 4ft from the west, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 190 (moderate), which is the best we’ve seen by a long shot. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the East, so the surface will be smooth. This is the only standout in the whole 16-day window. The afternoon of the 3rd builds to 4ft and 269 energy, but the wind shifts onshore from the NW, so the morning is your best bet.

To be honest, this is a poor run for the area. There’s a massive gap of nearly two weeks with almost no surfable waves. If you’re a beginner, the 4ft on the 3rd is manageable, but it’s nothing special. For the experts, there’s just not enough power or size. The only window worth your time is the morning of August 3rd at Slip Point. Keep an eye on the charts, but right now, it’s looking like a long wait.

Stay patient, keep the rubber warm, and don’t force it.

Rusty

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