The Wedge Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for the Wedge. We’ve got a lot of small, junky surf on the way, and the conditions are going to make you work for every closeout. The water’s sitting right around 65°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so at least the temp isn't messing with us.

Looking at the immediate future, we've got a run of nothing. From Thursday the 10th through to late September, we’re looking at a whole lot of tiny surf with weak, short-period energy. The swell energy is barely registering – we’re talking values as low as 4 to 55, which is weak stuff. The winds are mostly cross or cross-on, chopping up an already pathetic ocean. There’s a slight bit of clean-ness on the 14th with a light cross-off breeze, but the swell is still just 0.7ft, so it's not going to be worth the paddle.

We finally see the energy start to build around Tuesday the 23rd. That morning, the swell ticks up to 3ft from the ENE with a period of 6 seconds. It’s still pretty raw, but it’s the first time we get a “surfable” call in days, and the wind is light and cross-off, leaving the surface clean. The combined energy jumps to 66, which is still weak, but at least there’s something to push you around. This is the first real option, but it’s marginal at best.

The Wedge is an exposed reef break, and it’s notoriously inconsistent. It needs a specific NE swell to really light up, but what we’re seeing is a short-period ENE windswell. That’s not what this place wants. The period is too short, so the waves are going to be crumbly and lack that famous wedge shape. It’s also an advanced spot, so if you're not confident, stay out of the water even when it’s firing.

That afternoon, the wind swings more cross-on, and the swell jumps to 6ft with energy up to 238, which is moderate. But with that onshore wind and the short period, it's going to be a messy, lumpy closeout. This is more for a bodyboarder with a death wish than a surfer looking for a clean ride. Definitely not a beginner wave at this size, and with the quality being this poor, I’d be giving it a miss unless you’re an expert.

The morning of the 24th brings more ENE swell at 3ft, and the energy bumps to 159. The period is a touch better at 8 seconds, but the wind is light cross-on, so the surface isn't perfect. It’s more of the same – ordinary.

The long-range stuff, into the 25th and beyond, is just as uninspiring. Clean conditions but no size. There is a window on the 25th with some glassy conditions and a long 10-second period ESE swell, but it’s only 0.7ft. That’s barely a ripple.

So, honestly, the best bet in this entire 16-day window is that early morning on the 23rd. It's the only time the call isn't complete junk. But even then, it’s a weak, short-period windswell at an inconsistent reef. It’s not going to be a classic. The conditions are just too poor for The Wedge to do its thing. We need a better angle and a longer period for this place to shine.

This looks more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers on those messy days with a bit of size. For the surfers, it’s a waiting game. It won't stay flat forever, but this forecast is a test of patience.

Rusty out.

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