Slip Point (Clallam Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks. Rusty here. Let’s break down the forecast for Slip Point.

First thing you need to know: the water is running much colder than normal for this time of year, at 54°. That’s about 5° below average, so you’ll want a thick wetsuit, maybe even booties, if you’re heading out.

Honestly, the next week and a half is a bit of a struggle. There’s a real dry spell coming up. From Tuesday the 4th right through until Saturday the 15th of August, the surf is mostly tiny or flat, with the wind messing things up. You’ll see a few little pulses of swell, but the conditions are just ordinary. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the wave heights are barely scraping 2ft. It’s one of those stretches where you’re better off doing something else – the combined energy is weak, with values barely cracking 100 (47 to 63). There’s a glassy morning on Thursday the 6th, but no swell to go with it. It’s a tough run.

Now, the first real glimmer of hope comes on Saturday the 15th of August. The afternoon shows a pulse of 4ft swell from the west, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to a moderate 220, which is a step in the right direction. But the wind is onshore from the NNW at 6 mph, so it’s not going to be clean. Still, it’s the first bit of size in ages.

The pick of the entire outlook, and the only one that gets me talking, is Wednesday the 19th of August. Early morning, it’s glassy – a light breeze from the north, dead calm. That’s a major positive. The swell is 3ft from the WNW, with an 11-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, and it’ll offer some real shape on the point. The combined energy is 156, so there’s some juice. The wind is glassy, and the water will be clean. That’s your window. It’s not a giant day, but after all that flatness, it’s the best on offer. The break is a point, so that longer period will wrap in nicely, and with the wind offshore and light, it’ll be worth the wait.

The other mention is Tuesday the 18th of August. A clean 1ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 11 seconds, but it’s small. The wind is cross-off from the ENE, so it’s rideable, but just barely. The energy is low (69). It’s a “maybe” if you’re desperate.

So, to sum it up: the first half of the outlook is a write-off. The 15th gives you a bit of size but onshore wind. The standout is the morning of the 19th – glassy, clean, and a little groundswell. That’s the one to circle on the calendar.

Rusty.

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