10th Street (Avalon) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up for 10th Street in Avalon. Straight up, the next two weeks look pretty grim for a paddler. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, and messy conditions, so don’t get your hopes up for any decent sessions until mid-month.

The water is sitting at a very warm 78°F, which is a whopping 7°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a pretty unusual spike, so you’ll be sweating in your wetsuit – or maybe just boardshorts if you’re brave.

We start off with nothing. Saturday the 5th has a tiny 1.0 ft swell from the SE with a short 8-second period and only 17 units of energy. The wind is light and offshore, so it’s clean, but honestly, there’s just no wave to ride. Sunday the 6th picks up a little to 4 ft by the afternoon, but it’s a windswell from the ENE with a period of just 6 seconds and 92 units of energy. The wind is cross-onshore and it’s choppy – not worth paddling out for.

Monday the 7th through to Thursday the 10th are all tiny, with swell heights barely scraping 2 ft. The winds are a mix of offshore and cross-offshore, so the surface is clean, but the energy is pitiful – mostly under 80 units. You’ll be bobbing around waiting for a dribble that never comes. Friday the 11th has a clean offshore breeze and a 1.0 ft, 10-second SE swell, but combined energy is only 19 units. It’s glassy, but there’s nothing to ride.

The weekend of the 12th and 13th is a write-off. Small, cross-shore wind, and messy. Monday the 14th is small and clean again, but still tiny. We’re looking at a solid 12-day gap with no real surf.

Then, on Thursday the 17th of September, things finally get interesting. The morning shows a sharp spike: 10 ft of swell from the ENE with an 8-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1072 units – that’s serious grunt. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’s clean. Now, this is a big swell – over 8 ft – so this is strictly for experts. The period is short, so it’ll be a bit dumpy and fast, but for a beach break, the clean conditions will offer some heavy, hollow walls. Don’t even think about taking a beginner out here.

However, that window closes fast. By Thursday afternoon, the wind swings to a cross-shore 16 mph from the NE, and the quality drops right off. Friday the 18th stays big – 10 ft and 8 ft with 1225 and 986 units of energy – but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy, turning it into a messy, blown-out closeout. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The swell slowly drops through the 19th and 20th, staying around 6 ft to 3 ft but with cross-onshore wind and chop. It’s a real shame because the Thursday morning window is the only true standout in the whole 16-day outlook. It’s a promising, clean, powerful swell, but it’s a one-morning wonder. After that, it’s back to the wait.

Rusty.

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