States Avenue (Gas Chambers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for States Avenue.

Straight up, we’re looking at a pretty grim stretch for the next week and a half. The first week is basically a write-off, with tiny, weak swell and poor conditions. There’s a long gap with no real surf to get excited about until we hit the second weekend. The magic happens on August 8th when a proper groundswell finally shows up.

It kicks off on Thursday morning, July 30th. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the southeast, but the wind is a solid offshore out of the northwest. The combined energy is weak (55), so it’s just small, clean waves. Not worth racing for. That afternoon, the wind swings and the quality drops.

The whole next week, from July 31st through to August 7th, is a total bust. The swell is tiny, between 1.0ft and 3ft, with very weak energy (mostly under 70). The wind is almost always cross or cross-on, making things choppy and messy. There are a few clean moments, like Monday the 3rd with a cross-off breeze, but the swell is just too small to do anything with. It’s a real flat spell.

Now, hold onto your boards. The standout window opens on Saturday morning, August 8th. We get a solid 3ft swell from the southeast, but the real story is the period jumping to 11 seconds and the combined energy hitting 211 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-off from the west-southwest, keeping it clean. This is a groundswell, so it’ll have more push and shape. The crowds are often here, so expect company.

But the absolute best of the run is Sunday morning, August 9th. The swell builds to 4ft from the south-southeast, with a very long period of 12 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 430 (strong wave energy). The wind is a whisper-light cross-off from the north-northwest, making it glassy. This is a proper groundswell with good energy and clean lines. It’s a big wave for a beach/jetty break, so it’s getting solid for intermediates. The longer period will mean longer waits between sets, but the waves will be more powerful and well-shaped. This is the morning to be in the water.

After that, the swell stays around 4ft to 4ft through August 12th, but the wind goes onshore from the east, ruining the surface. The energy is still strong (up to 517), but it’s a messy, choppy mess. Not for the paddle surfer, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The last few days of the outlook fade back to small, weak surf.

So, to boil it down: the first week is a total loss. The 8th has some promise, but the 9th of August is the real standout with a strong, long-period groundswell and glassy conditions. Get it while you can.

Rusty, signing off.

Read more