Spring Lake Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at the outlook for Spring Lake.

Honestly, mate, it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’ve got a solid 16-day window to look at, but the first two weeks are pretty much a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. The pattern is flat and weak, with combined swell energy barely cracking 100 most days, sitting down around 32 to 77 (moderate to weak). The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

The first real glimmer doesn’t show up until Thursday, August 20th afternoon. Before that, from Saturday the 8th all the way through Thursday morning the 20th, it’s just poor surf conditions. Zero scores. You’re looking at a gap of nearly two weeks with nothing to recommend. The winds are often cross or onshore, and the swell is tiny—mostly under 2 ft, with periods under 8 seconds. Not worth suiting up for.

Thursday afternoon, August 20th, we finally get a bit of life. The swell bumps up to 2 ft from the SE, with a period of 10 seconds, and combined energy hits 119 (moderate). The wind switches to a moderate offshore from the W, which is a major positive—it’ll clean up the faces. The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and the score is a 1. It’s not a standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.

Then, on Saturday, August 22nd morning, we get a bit more interesting. The swell jumps to 3 ft from the ESE, with a longer period of 12 seconds and combined energy of 241 (moderate). That’s a groundswell, and it’s got some punch. But the wind is light onshore from the E, and the report says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” Still, it’s the biggest and most energetic swell of the whole period. This is the one to watch, but it’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it.

The next day, Sunday, August 23rd morning, we have a similar setup: 3 ft from the ESE, 12-second period, 187 energy, and a light offshore from the SW. That’s clean, and the report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” scoring a 1. It’s a close second, but the Saturday morning has the edge on size.

For the whole 16-day run, there’s no proper standout. The only real window is the last few days, with Saturday the 22nd morning being the best of a poor bunch. If you’re desperate, that’s your window. The wind is not ideal, but the swell is the biggest we’ll see. It’s a beach break, so that long-period SE groundswell might wrap in okay, but it could also be a bit straight. For the rest of the time, save your wax.

Rusty.

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