Steamer Lane-The Slot Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next 16 days for our stretch of coast.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag. The opening weekend, Saturday the 1st of August, actually offers a glimmer of hope. The slot at Steamer Lane is the main event here. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. Saturday afternoon looks promising with a clean 5ft swell from the WNW, period around 8 seconds, and glassy conditions – that’s the kind of wind that makes a break look like a mirror. The combined energy is moderate (507), so there’s a bit of push. It’s a very consistent reef break, best for advanced surfers, and it’s fairly exposed to the west. Crowds are common here, so expect a few heads in the water.

Saturday morning starts with a similar 6ft NW swell but with onshore wind, so it’s a bit of a wait for that afternoon glass-off. After that, things get a little tricky. Sunday and Monday have some swell, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making the surf marginal. The wave energy stays moderate but the quality drops. Tuesday through to the following Saturday see a real drop in size and energy, with a lot of poor or marginal conditions. The energy dips to around 187-340, which is weak to low-moderate. It’s a bit of a flat spell, really.

There’s a bit of a shift around the 9th and 10th of August – the swell bumps back up to 5-6ft from the WNW, with moderate energy (857 on the 9th morning), but the wind is cross-onshore, keeping things from getting truly clean. It’s better than the middle of the week, but still not a standout.

The last few days of the window, from the 12th, see a change in swell direction to a very long-period SSW groundswell (16-19 seconds), but the size is tiny – 1ft to 3ft. That long period would be great at a point or reef, but with such small waves, it’s hard to get excited. The energy is moderate in value, but the size just isn’t there for a proper session.

So, the best bet is that Saturday afternoon, August 1st, at Steamer Lane. Clean, glassy, waist-to-chest high waves with a bit of west energy. After that, pick your moments, but the rest of the run is mostly a waiting game. Keep your eyes on the forecasts, things can change quick around here.

Rusty.

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