States Avenue (Gas Chambers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for this stretch. I gotta be straight with you: if you’re looking for a classic session, this isn’t your week. For the next couple of weeks, we’re dealing with a long, flat spell with only a few flickers of life.

The forecast kicks off on Wednesday, August 5th, and it’s a rough start. For the first twelve days, through to about August 16th, it’s poor. We’re talking tiny, weak swell – barely 1 ft to 3 ft – with a short period of just 5 to 6 seconds. The wind is mostly side-shore or onshore, creating chop and messy conditions. The combined wave energy is weak, usually under 100 (like 40 to 58), which tells you the ocean is just flat and lazy. Honestly, there’s nothing worth paddling out for here. That’s a solid twelve-day gap with no real surf.

Then, we get a glimmer. On Monday, August 17th, the morning shows a jump in swell to 5 ft, from the S, with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy hits 348 (moderate). But the wind is a light cross-on from the SSE, and the call is only “marginal.” This is still a tough one for beginners – that 5 ft is getting up there, but it’s not a clean wave. It’s a maybe, not a go.

The one true standout in this whole bleak outlook comes on Tuesday, August 18th, in the morning. Finally, we get a clean setup. The wind shifts to a light offshore from the NW – that’s a major positive. The swell is 2 ft from the SSE, with a period of 9 seconds. That’s a longer period, meaning a bit more energy and shape, but it’s still small. The combined energy is 65 (weak). The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” For this stretch, that’s as good as it gets. It’s not a classic, but it’s the closest we’ll get to a clean wave. The break is States Avenue (Gas Chambers). It’s a beach and jetty setup, and it’s consistent, but it’s exposed to the S swell. The crowd factor says “often,” so expect company. The water temperature is about 76°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

After that, the energy drops right back off. Wednesday, August 19th, is back to small, weak surf, and Thursday, August 20th, is a mix of onshore wind and a weird 3 ft ENE swell with a period of only 4 seconds – that’s just wind chop. So, if you’re keen, your best bet is that Tuesday morning window. It’s not a world-class day, but it’s the only one that’s clean.

Rusty.

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