Steamer Lane-The Slot Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for the Slot.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The surf is pretty marginal through the first week, with small, long-period SSW groundswells that bump up the energy but don’t really deliver much in the way of size or shape. The water is sitting at 61° and is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is nice.

The standout window? It’s not this weekend. For the next week, we’re looking at waves around the 3 ft to 4 ft range, mostly from the SSW. That’s not going to get the heart racing. The best early call is Saturday morning, July 25th, with a 3 ft SSW swell and a very long 21-second period. The energy is moderate (708), but the wind is a light cross-shore from the NW, so it’ll be clean. The crowds are often here, so you’ll have company. That long period means the waves will have plenty of push, but at a reef like this, it should be holding up nicely.

Sunday the 26th through Wednesday the 29th is more of the same – small, clean-ish in the mornings with light winds, but nothing to write home about. The swell energy does climb into the 1000s (904 to 1330), which is moderate, but the wave heights just aren’t there.

Now, Thursday the 30th of July, we get a bit of a shrug. The morning shows a 6 ft NW swell, but the period is a short, choppy 8 seconds, and the wind is cross-on. That’s a messy combo for a reef. The combined energy (1284) is moderate, but the quality just isn’t there. It’s not a standout.

The real kicker, and the one to watch, is Saturday the 8th of August. We’ve got a 6 ft NW swell with a 9-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 859 (moderate). The wind is offshore from the SW, which is perfect for the Slot. This is the best looking surf in the whole window. It’s still a bit of a wait, and the long-range call is less certain, but on paper, that’s the one. That size is still manageable for advanced surfers, but it’s getting close to the limit for beginners.

Between now and then, there’s a big gap of poor conditions and marginal surf with no real recommendations. The second week is mostly onshore, small, and weak, with a lot of poor surf ratings. The setup on the 8th is the only real standout.

So, keep your eyes on that Saturday, August 8th. It’s the best bet.

Rusty.

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