The South Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s happening at The South Jetty.

Straight up, the next two weeks are a real mixed bag. For the next week and a half, it’s pretty grim – small, weak, and mostly sloppy. There’s a run from now through to the afternoon of Sunday, July 19th where you’re getting nothing worth paddling out for. The energy is weak, between 6 and 59 (combined energy), with tiny swell bumping around. Winds are mostly cross-onshore or just messy, so conditions are chopped up or just plain flat.

There’s a slight pulse of life on Monday, July 20th morning. We see the swell bump to 3ft from the S, with a clean offshore wind from the NNW at 6 mph. That’s a brief window where it’s actually surfable, even if ordinary. But that window is short-lived.

Things get a bit more interesting starting Tuesday, July 21st afternoon and into Friday, July 24th. The swell picks up, but here’s the rub – the wind stays cross-onshore from the E or ESE. The energy climbs into moderate territory, with values like 247 and 283, and by Friday morning we’re seeing 5ft to 6ft from the S with 475 energy. That’s the biggest size on offer, but it’s blown out and choppy. That much swell with those winds is a kitesurfing setup, not a clean wave for a surfer.

The standout moment?
It’s the early morning of Monday, July 20th. You’ve got 3ft of S swell, period around 7 seconds, with a clean, light NNW offshore. That combination is the best you’ll get across the whole outlook – tiny, but clean. It’s the only time where it all lines up. But honestly, this is a wave for a log or a longboard. Anything bigger than 5ft comes through with bad wind, so that Monday morning is your quiet highlight.

Remember, The South Jetty is a beach/jetty break, exposed to the swell. The water is 77°F, which is much warmer than normal for the time of year – nearly 5° warmer than average, so you’re in for a warm one if you go.

The late run from July 23rd to the 25th has more size (5ft to 6ft) but the wind just never cooperates. It’s messy, cross-onshore, and not worth the paddle unless you like a fight. After that, things drop off again into the 26th.

So to sum it up: one clean morning on the 20th, a whole lot of wind-affected junk around the 23rd-24th, and not much else. If you’re desperate, aim for that Monday morning. Otherwise, keep an eye on the forecasts – it won’t stay poor forever.

Rusty.

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