The Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gonna level with you straight up: this forecast for The Jetty is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out run of tiny, messy surf with barely a glimmer of hope across the entire 16-day window. It’s not going to be pretty.

The pattern is pretty grim from the start on Tuesday, August 25th. We’ve got a bit of swell showing, but it’s weak as dishwater, with a combined wave energy of just 22. The water’s sitting at 77°F, which is *much warmer than normal* for this time of year – over four degrees warmer – but that’s about the only thing that’s working in our favour. The wind is a cross-off from the west at 12 mph, but the swell is a pathetic 1.0 ft from the SE, with an 11-second period. It’s clean, sure, but there’s nothing to ride. The score is a flat zero.

We roll into Wednesday, August 26th, and things get a little cleaner but no bigger. Morning has a glassy, clear sky with the wind from the SSE at just 3 mph, but it’s still only 1 ft of SE swell at 9 seconds. The cross-on crap kicks in later that afternoon from the south at 12 mph, chopping up that tiny 1 ft bump.

Thursday through to the end of August is more of the same: tiny 1.0 ft to 2 ft swell, mostly cross-on or onshore winds, and nothing but “poor surf conditions” noted. The combined energy rarely cracks 70. It’s a beach on the sandbar, and with this much wind and poor quality, it’s honestly looking more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing right now.

We get a tiny, quiet ray of light on Friday, August 28th. The morning has a 3 ft swell from the SSE at a weak 6-second period, with a north wind at 9 mph giving us a clean cross-off. The description even says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – that’s as good as it gets. Still, 3 ft and 6 seconds is a gutless, weak wave (energy 71).

Saturday and Sunday, August 29th and 30th, are a write-off again. Then we hit a big dead spot. From Monday, August 31st, right through to Tuesday, September 8th, it’s a desert. The swell barely exists (0.7 ft to 2 ft) and the combined energy sits between 16 and 93. Most of it is still “poor surf conditions.” The only slight change is a very long-period, tiny 0.7 ft groundswell on September 1st with a 14-second period – but it’s 0.7 ft. You’d need a wave pool.

Finally, we get one last chance on Wednesday, September 9th. The morning is clean with a NNW cross-off at 9 mph, and the swell is 2 ft from the E at 9 seconds. The energy is still weak (59), but the description says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” The afternoon gets a real treat: a 9 mph offshore from the NW, clean conditions, but still only 2 ft from the E at 9 seconds. This is the absolute best on offer, but it’s a sad best.

If I had to pick one moment to even consider paddling out, it’s the afternoon of Wednesday, September 9th. The offshore wind and clean conditions will give you the best chance at a few ankle-biters. But honestly, for a beginner spot that is *fairly consistent*, a blank run like this is more normal for the area than you’d hope. It’s grim, folks. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d leave the board at home.

Rusty.

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