Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Looks like the next couple of weeks are going to be a proper mixed bag for Strand (Pipe). The standout window is definitely the first week, with a serious pulse of south-west groundswell hitting the coast. Water temp is sitting around 59°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so don't expect any surprises there.

We kick off Thursday, August 6th, with a solid 7 ft SW swell rolling in at 13 seconds. The wind is a light cross-off, and the wave energy is pumping (1326). It’s clean, but this is a 7 ft wave, so it’s pushing into intermediate territory. Friday morning, August 7th, is where it gets real good. The swell drops slightly to 7 ft, but the period jumps to a very long 15 seconds, turning it into a proper groundswell. The wind is glassy—absolutely perfect—and the energy is massive (1911). This is a standout morning for the experienced crew. The long period will make it a bit straight at the beach, but it’ll be clean as a whistle. That afternoon, the wind swings cross-on and the swell jumps to 8 ft, making it a bit messy for the afternoon session.

By Saturday, August 8th, the swell is still solid at 6 ft SW, but the wind is a cross-shore and the energy is down to 1042. Still surfable, but not as crisp. Sunday, August 9th, sees the wind really pick up to 19 mph from the SSE. The swell is 8 ft in the morning, jumping to 10 ft in the afternoon. That’s expert-only territory, and the energy is through the roof (4282 in the afternoon). For the average surfer, this is a day to watch from the sand or maybe rig a kite—the setup is far more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Monday, August 10th, the swell drops back to 5 ft S, but the wind is still a solid 12-16 mph cross-off. It’s clean, but the energy is lower (619). Tuesday, August 11th, brings a nice little window with a 5 ft SSW swell and a clean offshore wind from the east. The period is 12 seconds, so it’s got some shape. That’s a good one for a quick session.

Now, the real gem arrives on Wednesday, August 12th. The morning is glassy, with a 4 ft SW swell and a very long 18-second period. The energy is solid (1229). This is a point-break dream: long period, glassy, and clean. The crowd profile says “sometimes,” so you might have a few friends out, but it’s worth it. This is the best on offer for the first week. Thursday, August 13th, is a repeat performance with a glassy morning, 5 ft SW swell at 17 seconds, and even the afternoon goes glassy with zero wind. Unreal conditions.

After that, the second week fades. Friday, August 14th, has small 3 ft swell and glassy conditions but not much energy. Saturday and Sunday, August 15th and 16th, are a write-off with poor, choppy conditions and weak energy. There’s a big gap of poor surf from the 15th through the 18th. Monday, August 17th, is marginal at best. Things slowly start to build again on Wednesday, August 19th, with a 5 ft SW swell and clean cross-off wind, but it’s not a standout.

Looking way out, the long-range forecast is promising but less certain. Friday, August 21st, shows a potential return to form. The morning is glassy, with a 6 ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, and the afternoon is glassy with a 8 ft SSW swell at 17 seconds and an energy reading of 4047. If that holds, it’s a massive, clean, long-period swell for the experts. But it’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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