Spanish Bay-South Moss Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about this stretch. It’s gonna be a tough slog for surfers here.

We’re looking at Spanish Bay-South Moss, and honestly, the 16-day window kicks off with a painful run of poor conditions. From Friday the 24th all the way through the end of July, the wind is hammering onshore, and the swell is just weak and messy. The wave energy is moderate at best, sitting around 763 initially, but it’s just not translating into anything rideable. The wind is relentless from the WNW and NW, blowing at 9 to 16 mph, and it’s ruining any chance of a decent wave. The swell is tiny, around 2 to 3 feet, and the period is long, around 21–24 seconds, which is a groundswell, but it’s breaking too straight and blown out. This is a tough stretch. There’s going to be a gap of several days with no real surf to recommend.

The first flicker of hope doesn’t show up until Monday the 27th. The morning has a bit of swell, 4 feet from the SW, with a period of 18 seconds, and the energy climbs to 1025, which is moderate. But the wind is still onshore from the NW at 9 mph, and the forecast calls it “marginal.” It’s not a standout, but it’s the first time you might get a couple of closeouts if you’re desperate. The water temperature is 60°F with a 1° anomaly, so it’s a touch warmer than average for this time of year, but nothing crazy.

The next potential window is Thursday the 30th. The morning has a 3 feet SSW swell with a 16-second period, energy at 621, and the wind is a light breeze from the WNW at 6 mph. Still onshore, but lighter. Then in the afternoon, the swell bumps up to 5 feet from the NW, but the period drops to a short 8 seconds, and the wind goes cross-on. It’s choppy, but the energy is only 590. It’s still marginal.

Saturday the 1st of August shows a bit more promise. The morning has a 4 feet S swell with a 14-second period, energy at 1013, and the wind is from the NW at 9 mph, still onshore. It’s a marginal call, but the swell direction is better. The afternoon is similar, with a 5 feet S swell, but the wind goes cross-on and it’s choppy.

The best chance in this whole forecast comes on Sunday the 2nd of August. The morning has 7 feet of NW swell, but the period is a short 9 seconds, and the wind is onshore from the WNW at 9 mph. The energy is 1051. This is a size that’s pushing into the “too big for beginners” range, and with the short period and onshore wind, it’s going to be a messy, lumpy, closeout mess. This is really only for experts who don’t mind a beatdown, and even then, it’s not great. The afternoon drops to 7 feet, but the wind picks up to 12 mph, so it’s even worse.

The rest of the first week of August just fades. Monday the 3rd has 7 feet WNW swell with a 10-second period, but the wind is onshore and the energy is 914. It’s marginal. Tuesday the 4th drops to 6 feet, and the energy is low, around 556. By Thursday the 6th, the swell is down to 5 feet, the wind is lighter but cross-on, and the energy is only 536. Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th are even smaller, with 4 feet and 3 feet swells, and the wind is cross or cross-on, but the energy is weak, under 310.

There’s no real standout in this 16-day window. The biggest pulse is on Sunday the 2nd of August, but it’s let down by the wind and the short period. If you’re a kite surfer, the onshore winds and the choppy, lumpy waves might be more interesting, but for a paddler, this is a long, frustrating stretch. The consistent onshore wind and the marginal nature of the forecast mean it’s a dry spell, but it tends not to stay poor for long around here, and forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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