States Avenue (Gas Chambers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got for the next couple of weeks. This is going to be one of those reports where I have to be straight with you from the start: the news isn’t good. Honestly, for the entire 16-day stretch, there’s not a single session I’d paddle out for. So, let’s just walk through the quiet period and see what the ocean is doing.

We’re starting off with nothing on Sunday, July 5th. That sets the tone. We’ve got a long, quiet run ahead. For nearly two full weeks, the score is zero across the board. There’s simply no surf on offer worth mentioning. The first couple of days show tiny scraps of energy, but it’s all small, weak, and accompanied by poor conditions. It’s a proper flat spell.

For the first break on the list, States Avenue (Gas Chambers), the water is a warm 76°F, which is a solid 6°F warmer than what’s typical for this time of year. That’s a big anomaly—very unusual, feels like bathwater out there. But even that warm water can’t save us.

Through the first week, we see nothing but tiny swell. The first pulse shows up around Tuesday, July 7th, with a combined wave energy of (105) in the afternoon, but the swell is only 4ft from the ENE with a short 6-second period. The wind is cross-off, so it *looks* clean, but with period that short, it’s just a lumpy, weak closeout. Not worth it.

A few days later, Saturday, July 11th morning has the biggest height we’ll see at 4ft from the ENE, energy jumping to (130). But again, period is a short 6 seconds, and it’s a messy cross-shore chop. The setup is a beach and jetty, and with that kind of wind and weak swell, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The second week keeps the same theme. A couple of clean windows pop up, like Thursday, July 16th with a cross-off wind and clean faces, but the swell is only 2ft and the energy is weak (45). There’s just no push. A few offshore moments creep in right at the tail end, around Sunday, July 19th and Monday, July 20th, with a 19 mph NNW wind blowing offshore and cleaning things up. But the swell is still only 2ft with a 4 or 5-second period. It’s a groomed lake, not surf.

The takeaway? This is a blank run. For an exposed beach setup like this, it’s normal to have stretches like these. Forecasts can always change, but right now, there’s nothing to get excited about. Leave the board in the car, grab a beer, and wait for the next proper pulse.

- Rusty

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