Spanish Bay-South Moss Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a 16-day outlook for Spanish Bay-South Moss, and if I’m being straight with you, it’s a pretty grim picture for most of the run. The first week is basically a write-off, but there’s a little glimmer of hope in the second week for those who are patient.

The whole pattern is dominated by onshore winds and poor surf quality. For the first nine days, from Thursday the 23rd of July right through to the end of the month, the wind is hammering straight onshore from the NW and WNW at 12 to 19 mph. The swell is there, but it’s a mess. The combined wave energy is moderate, ranging from 407 to 1252, but don’t let those numbers fool you – the conditions are just plain ugly. The swell is coming from the SSW and SW, but the wind is ruining it. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The standout, if you can even call it that, is Tuesday the 28th of July. The morning shows a 4ft SSW swell at 18 seconds, with a combined energy of 1214, and it’s the only session that even scrapes a marginal rating. But the wind is still onshore from the NW at 12 mph. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but honestly, it’s not worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate.

We hit a real blank spot from the end of July through the first few days of August. The 30th and 31st of July see a shift in swell direction to the NW, but the period drops to a short 8 to 9 seconds, and the energy fades to 512. The 1st of August is even weaker, with just 4ft waves and a combined energy of 249. The wind stays onshore, and the quality is poor. For a few days there, it’s a total lull.

Then, on Monday the 3rd of August, things start to look a little more interesting. The wind finally swings to a light cross-onshore from the W and WSW at 6 to 9 mph. The swell is 5ft to 6ft from the NW with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy sits at 693. It’s still only marginal, but the light wind means the surface will be less chopped up. This is the best bet in the whole outlook. The 5ft to 6ft size is getting into the too-big-for-beginners zone, but for the average surfer, it’s manageable. The short period (9 seconds) means it’s a windswell, so it won’t have the punch of a groundswell, but with the lighter wind, it’ll be a lot more fun than the previous week.

Tuesday the 4th of August morning is also a contender, with a 6ft NW swell and a combined energy of 834, but the wind is back onshore from the NW. The 5th of August morning holds a 5ft NW swell with a light cross-onshore breeze, offering another marginal session.

After that, the energy drops off again into the 6th and 7th of August, with 4ft swell and weak energy (306 to 381). The wind is light, but the swell is too small to get excited about.

So, if you’re aching for a paddle, the absolute best window is the morning of the 3rd of August. The light cross-onshore wind and chest-high swell will be the cleanest we see in this entire stretch. The 4th and 5th of August mornings are worth a look too, but the wind is less favorable. For the rest of it, save your energy. The spot is fairly consistent for swell, but the wind just isn’t cooperating. It’s a tough run, but it won’t stay poor forever.

Rusty, out.

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