States Avenue (Gas Chambers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this outlook for our local stretch is a tough one. We're looking at a solid 16-day window, but honestly, the surf gods aren't smiling on us right now. The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off, with a long gap of poor conditions. It's not until way out there, around the 29th of July, that we see a glimmer of something rideable, and even then, it's a real gamble.

Let's break it down. The whole period kicks off with nothing worth paddling out for. The first real pulse of energy shows up on Wednesday, the 22nd of July, but it's a messy one. We've got a moderate cross-shore wind and a lumpy sea state. The swell builds to about 6ft on Wednesday morning from the South, with a combined energy of 717 (moderate), and it jumps to 7ft by the afternoon (energy 1051 – strong). The period is only 8 to 9 seconds though, so it's a short-period wind swell, not a clean groundswell. With that onshore wind and risk of thunderstorms, it's a marginal call at best, and honestly, with that kind of size and chop, it's only for the experts if you're game. Not a stand-out.

The only real chance, and I'm being generous here, pops up a full week later. You'll have to wait until the 29th of July. That Wednesday morning shows a 3ft swell from the SSE with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is 175 (moderate). The wind is a cross-shore from the NE, which is okay, but still not ideal. The break is States Avenue (Gas Chambers), a beach/jetty setup that's consistent and exposed. The water temperature is sitting at 76°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. It's the best of a bad bunch, but it's still a low-score, poor-surf-conditions call. The wind is going to be a moderate breeze, creating a cross-chop. It's not a stand-out by any stretch, just the only thing on the menu.

After that, we're back to flat, weak, and choppy conditions right through to the 4th of August. The whole 16-day run is a bust. The swell energy is weak, the winds are nearly always onshore or cross-shore, and the wave heights are tiny. For a spot that's usually consistent, this is a rare blank run. It's more of a kite-surfing breeze than a paddle-surfing swell for most of it.

So, my advice? Save your energy. The only date worth a look is that Wednesday, the 29th of July, at States Avenue, and even then, keep your expectations low. Forecasts can change, but right now, it's a long wait for very little.

Rusty.

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