Slip Point (Clallam Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. We’ve got a long stretch of flat, dribbly conditions ahead, so if you’re jonesing for a wave, you might want to find another hobby for a bit.

First thing’s first – the water out at Slip Point is running about 4°F colder than it should be this time of year. That’s a serious chill, so a thick suit is non-negotiable if you do decide to get in.

The forecast starts with a whole lot of nothing. From the 23rd through the 3rd of September, it’s mostly flat. There are a couple of tiny bumps around the 25th and the 30th of August, but we’re talking about 2ft of weak, short-period slop with combined energy barely registering (38 and 31 respectively). It’s not worth the paddle out. The wind is all over the place, and we’ve got a lot of onshore and cross-onshore junk.

We finally see a pulse of something on the 1st of September. Swell bumps to 2ft with a period of 10 seconds from the west. The energy is still weak (96), and the morning wind is a light cross-onshore, leaving the surface a bit rippled. It’s not good, just less bad.

The real window, and I mean the only one worth circling on your calendar, is the 4th of September. That Friday afternoon, things finally line up. We’ve got a 5ft west swell with a 9-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a solid 311 – that’s a moderate pulse we can actually work with. The wind goes glassy, and the forecast actually says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the standout of the whole period. It’s a point break, so that west swell should wrap in nicely. It’s a little bigger, so maybe not for the absolute beginners, but for the rest of us, this is the one to be out for.

The next morning, the 5th, has a smaller, weaker 3ft west-northwest swell (energy 120) with clean glassy conditions, but it’s a definite step down. It’ll be surfable, but nothing special. After that, it’s another drop back into the flatness, with high-pressure building in and the swell fading away to nothing by the 6th and 7th.

So there it is. A long, flat spell with one shining moment on the 4th. If that forecast holds, that’s your window. It’s a long way out, so keep your fingers crossed, but as it stands, that’s about as good as it gets.

Rusty out.

Read more