Spring Lake Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Spring Lake has lined up over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. The numbers don’t lie, and for most of the forecast, we’re staring at a whole lot of nothing special.

The overall pattern is one of small, weak, and often messy surf. The water temp is sitting at 72°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice little bonus if you’re just having a paddle, but it won’t help the waves.

We kick off Saturday, July 4th with a tiny 1ft SE swell, period a mediocre 9 seconds. The combined energy is only 22 – that’s weak. Wind is offshore in the morning from the WNW at 6 mph, so it’s clean, but there’s just no power behind it. The call is for poor surf conditions and a score of zero. Sunday the 5th is similar: 1ft, short period, onshore wind, washout.

Monday the 6th sees a bump in size to 3ft then 5ft from the east, but the period drops to a pathetic 5 or 6 seconds, and it’s onshore with risk of thunderstorms. Energy gets up to 160 (moderate) but the quality is just not there. Tuesday the 7th is the biggest of the week – 5ft ENE swell, but again short period (6 seconds), cross-shore wind at 19 mph, lumpy, messy, and a 0 score.

Wednesday the 8th morning offers the first tiny glimmer: 3ft E swell, period 7 seconds, energy of 116 (moderate), with a cross-offshore north wind at 9 mph. It’s still weak and unremarkable, but the wind is clean, so the surface is smooth. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – that’s as good as it gets. I wouldn’t get too excited.

Thursday the 9th through the rest of the first week is small, onshore, or cross-shore chop. Friday the 10th afternoon has a 3ft south swell with clean cross-offshore wind, but the period is a lousy 5 seconds – just windswell mush.

Then we hit a real desert. From Saturday July 11th all the way through Sunday July 19th, the swell drops to 1.0ft to 3ft at best, with periods stuck between 4 and 8 seconds. Energy values fall into the teens and twenties (weak). There are a few glassy or clean windows, like Saturday July 18th morning with glassy conditions and a 1.0ft SE swell, and Friday July 17th with clean cross-offshore light wind, but the waves are just too small to recommend. The guidance says Spring Lake is a consistent spot, but this is a proper flat spell. It’s the kind of blank run that feels normal for any exposed sandbar when the swell windows just aren’t lining up.

So, what’s the best on offer? Honestly, there isn’t a true standout. If I had to pick one session to maybe get wet on a foamie, it’s the Wednesday July 8th morning at Spring Lake, with a clean 3ft east swell. But keep your expectations on the floor.

For the second week, it’s more of the same: tiny, weak, and inconsistent. Don’t hold your breath.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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