Steamer Lane-The Slot Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at the forecast for the Slot. I’ve got to be straight with you, it’s not looking like a classic week of waves. The water’s sitting at 58°, which is about normal for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.

The first few days, Tuesday through Thursday, are a bit of a write-off. We’ve got small, weak swell, only around 1ft to 3ft, with a short period. The wind is light but onshore, putting some bumps on the surface. It’s pretty junky. The energy is weak, with values in the 127 to 249 range. You’re not going to be getting any proper rides.

Then we get into the weekend, and it’s still not great. Friday and Saturday start to see a bit more life in the water, with the swell picking up to 2ft to 2ft, but it’s longer period – 17 to 19 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, and it can be a bit too straight-breaking for a setup like this. It’s still pretty gutless, and the conditions are still marginal.

Now, Sunday the 9th is where things start to get a bit more interesting. The swell shows up a bit stronger, around 4ft from the WNW, with a period of 10 seconds. The energy is now moderate, with combined values hitting 606 in the morning. The wind is still light and onshore, so it might have some texture on it, but at least there’s some push. This is the first day I’d say is worth a paddle, but it’s still not a standout.

Monday the 10th is similar, with 5ft of WNW swell, but the period drops back to 9 seconds. The energy is moderate, around 587. The morning looks the better bet before the wind swings more cross-on in the afternoon. It’s still onshore, so expect some chop.

Tuesday the 11th has the biggest pulse of this stretch, with 6ft of NW swell in the afternoon, and the energy jumps up to 983 – that’s a strong pulse of energy. But it’s accompanied by a cross-on breeze, so it might be a bit of a battle. This is the biggest surf of the period, but the quality is going to be compromised.

After that, the swell settles back down. We’re back to smaller, longer-period swells from the SSW, with heights mostly under 3ft. The energy stays moderate, but the surf is weak and the conditions are still not great. The week after the 11th, through to the 19th, just looks pretty slow and small. There’s no real power to it.

So, looking at the whole 16-day window, there’s nothing that screams “drop everything and go.” The best on offer is probably the morning of Sunday the 9th, and maybe the morning of Monday the 10th. The surf will be around 4ft to 5ft from the WNW, which is a little bigger and more consistent. The winds are light, albeit onshore, so it’s not going to be perfect, but it’s the most rideable it’s going to get. The bigger swell on the 11th is more for the experienced crew, and with that cross-on wind, it might get a bit messy.

Because it’s a reef setup, the longer period swells from the SSW might be breaking a little too straight, so the more westerly swells look like the better bet. The crowds here are often a factor, so you’ll likely have some company.

For the rest of the time, it’s a case of small waves and poor conditions. It’s not a complete blank, but it’s not far off. Keep an eye on the forecast, because these things can change. But as it stands, don’t get your hopes up for a classic.

Rusty.

Read more