Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s chew the fat on this one.

The next 16 days at Strand (Pipe) are a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some definite windows of opportunity if you’re patient. The water is sitting at 58°, which is a bit colder than you’d expect for this time of year – a noticeable 2° chill, so don’t forget the booties if you’re heading out.

We kick off on Sunday, the 23rd of August, with a rising swell. It’s a bit uneven with the cross-shore wind, but the swell is pushing 4 ft from the SW with a period of 12 seconds, giving it a moderate energy (555). It’s not the cleanest, but the swell has some push.

The real standout for the first week hits on Wednesday, the 26th of August. The morning session is looking tasty: 5 ft of SE swell, period of 7 seconds, but the wind is offshore from the E at 15 mph. That’s clean conditions. The combined energy is moderate (690). Then, the afternoon gets even better. The swell drops to 3 ft, but it’s a long-period SSW groundswell (16 seconds) with an ESE wind at 9 mph – that’s gentle offshore and glassy. The energy is strong (1156). This is the pick of the week. The long period will make the waves look smooth and powerful, but it might break a bit straight at this beach-and-reef setup, so pick your peak.

Tuesday morning, the 25th, is also worth a mention. That 5 ft SW swell (15 seconds) with SE wind is clean, but the period is long, so again, watch for that straightening. The energy is very strong (1260).

After Wednesday, things get a bit messy with the wind switching around. Thursday and Friday have some smaller, cleaner windows, but the swell is weaker. Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st get blown out by strong NW winds and lumpy cross-onshore conditions.

Looking into the second week, there’s a big, gnarly pulse arriving. On Wednesday, the 2nd of September, the morning shows 7 ft from the SW (12 seconds) with light wind, but the energy is very strong (1311). This is pushing into expert territory. The following days get huge – 10 ft, 16 ft, and even 12 ft by the 5th of September. The 5th of September morning has a 12 ft SSW swell (16 seconds) with light wind, but it’s onshore. This is big, powerful, and dangerous. The energy is extreme (5659). Definitely not for beginners. It might be more of a kite surfing show than a paddle-out session.

The best of the entire run is that Wednesday the 26th – the afternoon glass-off with the long-period groundswell. If you can get out then, you’ll be smiling.

Rusty out.

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