Steamer Lane-The Slot Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a hard look at the next couple of weeks.

We’re looking at a long stretch here, but honestly, the first week is a bit of a grind. The surf is hanging around, but the quality is just not there. For the first eight days, from Saturday the 25th of July right through to the following Saturday, the waves are small and the conditions are messy. The best you’ll see is waist-high, maybe a touch bigger, but it’s coming from a very long period, around 18 to 21 seconds. That’s a classic groundswell, but it’s breaking too straight on the beach breaks and the Slot is a point, so it might be a little too lined up. The wind is mostly cross or cross-on, which is creating a bit of chop. The combined energy is decent, sitting around 700 to 1100 (moderate wave energy), but it’s just not translating into good shape. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing to worry about there.

The first real standout, and the one I’d circle on the calendar, is Saturday, August 1st. That afternoon, things finally sync up. The swell is still a modest 4 ft from the South, but the wind goes glassy. That’s the magic word. The Slot is a reef break and it’s very consistent, so it’ll hold that swell. The combined energy is a solid 815 (moderate), but it’s the glassy conditions that will make it look clean and fun. It’s a reef, so it’s for the advanced crew, and you can expect crowds there often. This is the best window of the whole run.

The following Sunday and Monday, the 2nd and 3rd of August, the swell picks up a bit, hitting 6 ft to 6 ft from the WNW, but the period drops to just 9 seconds. That’s a short-period, wind-affected swell. The wind is onshore or cross-on, so it’s going to be lumpy. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session. The energy drops off fast after that.

From Tuesday the 4th of August onwards, it’s a real drop-off. The swell fades to under 3 ft, the period gets long again, and the combined energy plummets to under 400 (weak wave energy). It’s a blank run of poor surf for the rest of the period. The forecast says poor or marginal through to the 9th of August. So, don’t get your hopes up for the second week.

Bottom line: The only real standout is the glassy afternoon of Saturday, August 1st. Pounce on that. Everything else is a marginal wait.

Rusty.

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