Telescopes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the forecast for Telescopes over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, this is a reef break that’s consistent and exposed, so it’s always in the mix. But the quality? It’s a real mixed bag here. The water’s sitting at 85°, which is a touch warmer than we’d normally expect for this time of year, but nothing too wild.

The pattern starts a bit flat and messy. Saturday the 29th is a write-off – we’ve got a 4ft SSW swell, but with a 12 mph cross-off breeze and a combined energy of only 664 (moderate), it’s looking marginal. The tide’s likely not playing ball either. Saturday afternoon is the same story, just a little smaller.

Things start to turn on Sunday the 30th. The swell drops to 3ft, but look at that period – 21 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, so the energy is solid (1096 combined energy). The morning is glassy clean with a gentle cross-off breeze. This is the standout moment for the whole outlook. The waves will be clean, but that long period means it’s going to be a bit tricky at a beach break, and Telescopes is a reef, so it should handle it well. This is your best window for a quality session.

The next few days build in size. Monday the 31st sees 5ft pushing to 6ft, still from the SSW. The wind stays cross-off, but the period drops to 18 seconds. The energy jumps up to 1965 – that’s strong, but the forecast calls it “marginal,” so there’s probably some tidal funk or a bit of lumpiness. Tuesday the 1st of September hits 7ft from the SW. That’s getting into expert-only territory, over 8ft is for experts only, and while 7ft is still doable for strong intermediates, the wind is consistent but the quality comments are still “marginal.”

The swell drops back through the middle of the week. Wednesday the 2nd sees 6ft, and by Thursday the 3rd, we’re at 4ft to 5ft with a 15-second period. The energy is moderate (791 to 831), and the wind is light. The comments flip to “expect very good surf conditions,” but the scores aren’t screaming. This is a decent, clean option, not a classic.

The second week gets a bit lumpy again. Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are small and messy. The best window in the second week is actually around September 10th. Thursday the 10th offers a 5ft to 5ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, light glassy winds, and over 1000 combined energy. The forecast says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s a solid call, but it’s a week and a half out, so keep it in the back of your mind.

The rest of the run into September 13th is a steady 5ft to 5ft with moderate energy and cross-off winds. It’s surfable, but nothing to set the alarm for.

So, the one true standout is Sunday morning, the 30th of August. Clean, glassy, long period groundswell. That’s your best shot. The second week, the 10th of September looks promising, but it’s a long way out. The crowds are a “sometimes” thing here, so don’t expect to have it empty, but it’s not a circus.

— Rusty

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