Slip Point (Clallam Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next 16 days are a tough stretch for surf around Slip Point (Clallam Bay). The finder has flagged every single session as poor, with a score of zero across the board, which means you’re looking at a long, frustrating run for the wave rider. This isn’t a quick dry spell; we’re talking about a solid two weeks-plus of mostly flat, wind-blown conditions. Keep the board in the car, but don’t be surprised if it stays there.

To give you the full picture, the water here is running *much* colder than normal for this time of year – a whopping 3° below the long-term average, sitting at 53°F. That’s a serious anomaly, so even if there was a wave, you’d need a thick hood and booties. That’s the first thing you’ll notice when you paddle out.

The first real shred of hope comes on the morning of Wednesday, the 19th of August. It’s not much, but it’s something. A weak 2ft swell from the west with a short 6-second period rolls in. The combined energy is basically just a whisper at 31. But the wind goes glassy, which is a big deal. That’s the main positive. The problem is, the swell is tiny, and the period is so short it’s going to be lumpy and unorganized. It’s barely surfable, and even then, it’s only really for a longboard or a foamie. Not a standout, just a “maybe if you’re desperate” window.

After that, it’s back to zip. The next time we see any swell at all is on Sunday, the 23rd of August, with a 2ft west swell, but the period is still a weak 7 seconds and the energy is a meager 47. The wind is onshore, which will ruin what little shape there is. It’s going to be a mess. That’s followed by Monday, the 24th of August, with a couple of 2ft west swells, again with 7-second periods and even less energy, down in the low 30s. The wind is onshore from the NW and WNW, meaning choppy, blown-out conditions. This isn’t surfing; it’s just a messy paddle.

We then have a complete blank for several days until Saturday, the 29th of August. That’s a five-day gap with absolutely nothing on offer. Finally, we get another crumb: a 2ft west swell on the morning of the 29th, with 7-second period and 44 energy. But you guessed it – the wind is cross-onshore from the WNW, so it’ll be messy and bumpy. It’s the same story, just a bit further out. The longest period we see all window is 7 seconds, which is short-period windswell. There’s no real groundswell to speak of at all.

Honestly, for a point break that needs a decent groundswell from the WNW to wrap in, this is about as bad as it gets. With the swell this small and the wind constantly on or cross-onshore, the setup just isn’t there. The only time the wind gets clean (offshore or glassy) there is no swell at all.

If you’re an advanced surfer, there’s nothing here for you. If you’re a beginner, the 2ft waves are small enough for you, but the poor quality and onshore wind will ruin the experience. With the lack of any real surfing, and the persistent onshore wind, the setup at this beach-and-point mix actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. You’d get more of a thrill from the choppy conditions on a bigger board with a kite.

The long-range stuff is promising but less certain, and truthfully, there isn’t any. You’d need a big change in the weather pattern to make this place work. As it stands, I’d say find another hobby for the next couple of weeks, and keep an eye on those charts. Forecasts change, and this dry spell won’t last forever.

Rusty.

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