Suicides Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about Suicides. Honestly, I’ve been looking at this stretch and it’s a grim run for the foreseeable future. We’ve got a solid 16-day window here, but the first wave of decent conditions doesn’t show up until right at the end. For the first week and a half, it’s pretty much a write-off.

The issue is the wind. It’s locked in from the north, blowing cross-on or onshore pretty much every day, and it’s moderate to fresh. That means the surface is going to be choppy and lumpy, no good for a clean ride. The swell is there, but it’s all short-period, wind-driven stuff – periods mostly around 6 to 8 seconds. That’s not going to produce any real shape. The combined energy climbs from weak (144) up to moderate (400-700 late in the window), but it’s all messy because of the wind. For a reef break like Suicides, which is exposed to the north-northwest, the wind is just ruining it.

The water temperature is sitting at 73°, which is about 1° warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing unusual, just a touch warm.

Now, the best of a bad bunch. The highlight, if you can call it that, is the very end of the forecast. On the 18th of August – Tuesday morning and afternoon – the wind finally swings around to a more offshore direction from the north-northwest. The swell is coming in at 5 ft from the north-northwest, with a period of 9 seconds, so it’s got a bit more energy (348 combined energy). This is a stiff, clean offshore wind on a reef. That’s your one standout. It’s still a bit of a gamble this far out, but that’s the only window where the conditions align. The swell is moderate, the period is decent, and the wind will make it glassy. For a surfer who knows the reef, that’s worth a look.

But let’s be real: for the other 15 days, the wind is just trashing the place. The few times the swell gets over 6 ft (like the 15th of August), the cross-on wind is still there, and the period is short. It’s just a messy, lumpy grind. If you’re a kite surfer, there might be some fun to be had in that strong wind and lumpy water, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.

Most of the time, Suicides is a consistent spot, but this run is a clear example of how a bad wind direction can kill it. Stay patient.

Rusty.

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