Surfside Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee, because I’ve looked through the numbers for our stretch of coast, and I’ve got to be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. We’re looking at a full 16-day window here, but the surf is going to be a real struggle. From now right through to the end of the month, there’s barely a ripple worth paddling for. The overall pattern is small, weak, and messy. Let’s walk through it day by day.

Starting on Sunday the 16th of August, it’s a no-go. We’ve got a tiny 1 ft SE swell with a short 8-second period, and the combined energy is weak, sitting at just 12. The wind is onshore from the SE at 9 mph, no good. That pattern pretty much sets the tone. Monday the 17th is more of the same – same tiny swell, and while the morning has a light cross-shore, the afternoon gets hammered by a 15 mph south wind. Not worth the wax.

Tuesday the 18th offers a glimpse of hope with a clean, offshore wind from the NW at 6 mph. But even then, the swell is still only 1 ft and 9 seconds. The combined energy is a bit better at 21, but we’re still in "poor surf" territory. Later in the week, Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th have the same tiny, weak swells. Thursday morning is glassy, flat as a lake – combined energy down to 9. It’s frustrating.

The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd has some storm risk, and on Saturday the 22nd, we see a 1 ft SSE swell with a 6-second period and a combined energy of 25. The wind goes glassy in the morning, which is nice, but the swell is still just too small to do anything with. Same story on Sunday the 23rd: a 2 ft S swell but with a period of only 5 seconds and a cross-onshore wind picking up to 15 mph. That’s more of a kite-surfing breeze.

Heading into the last week, we get a couple of windows. Monday the 24th has a clean offshore WNW wind at 6 mph, but the swell is a paltry 0.7 ft from the ESE. The period is a very long 12 seconds, which means it’s a groundswell, but there’s no height to it. The afternoon is glassy again with a 1 ft SSE swell. It’s flat but clean.

The best of a bad bunch, and I mean the absolute standout here, is probably going to be Surfside Pier on Tuesday the 25th of August.

The swell is still nothing to write home about, at 2 ft from the SSW, but it’s a relatively higher period at 6 seconds, and the combined energy bumps up to a moderate level at 45. The wind is a light cross-shore from the SW at 6 mph. It’s not perfect, but for this stretch, it’s as good as it gets. The water temperature is 83°, which is spot on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Still, even on that best day, the swell is small, and the break is exposed to the SE, which is not the optimum direction. It’s an inconsistent spot for beginners, and the crowds can show up sometimes. If there’s a day to get wet, that might be it, but keep your expectations low.

For the rest... Thursday the 27th has a clean cross-offshore wind from the NNE and a long-period 12-second SE swell at 1 ft, but it’s too small. The energy is moderate at 44, but there’s just no push.

Honestly, over this whole 16-day period, the combined swell energy rarely gets out of the two-digit weak range, topping out at 79 on Wednesday the 26th with a 3 ft SSW swell, but by then the wind is messy and cross-onshore.

So here it is: there’s no true stand-out. If you’re desperate, aim for Tuesday the 25th of August at Surfside Pier for the best wind and the highest energy, but don’t expect much. This area is seeing a blank run, and it might be a waiting game. Forecasts can change, so check back in a few days. Until then, you’re not missing a thing.

- Rusty

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