The Wedge Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me break it down for you. The Wedge is a breakwater wave that needs a solid SSW swell to really light up, and while there’s some energy in the water, the wind and conditions are just not playing ball for the first week. It’s a long wait before anything gets good.

The first chance to get wet is Monday morning, July 20th. The water is 70°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year – over three degrees above average, so that’s a big deal. The swell is 3.6 feet from the SSW with a period of 11 seconds, a light cross-onshore breeze at 6 mph. The combined energy is moderate at 336, but the wave comment says poor surf conditions. It’s small, the wind is messing with it, and it’s a zero score. Not worth it.

Tuesday the 21st is similar: a little more size in the morning, 3.9 feet from the SSW, but the period jumps to 16 seconds, which is a long period groundswell. The combined energy is strong at 701. But the wind is still cross-onshore at 9 mph, and it’s choppy. The score is a 1, marginal at best. The Wedge can handle that long period, being a breakwater, but the conditions aren’t clean.

Wednesday the 22nd, Thursday the 23rd, Friday the 24th – it’s more of the same. Swell sizes bouncing between 3 feet and 4.3 feet, cross-onshore or cross winds, periods mostly 13 to 15 seconds. Scores are 0 or 1, with a 2 on Friday morning when the wind briefly goes offshore from the S at 6 mph. That morning, the swell is 4.3 feet from the S, 13 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1073, which is strong. Still, the wave comment says marginal surf conditions. It’s a tiny window of cleaner air, but the swell is a bit short period and not lined up perfectly for The Wedge.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th bring in some very long period energy – 21 seconds and 19 seconds respectively. The swell is small, 2.6 feet to 3.6 feet, and the wind is cross-on or on. The combined energy is moderate to strong (935 and 836). The Wedge is a breakwater, so it can handle these long period lines, but the size is just too small to get excited about. Scores are 2, which is the best we’ve seen, but still marginal.

The whole week from July 20th to July 26th is a grind. There’s a gap with no real standouts. The first half of the following week, July 27th to July 30th, is more of the same: small to moderate swell, light onshore or cross winds, scores of 1. The Wedge is just not firing.

Now, finally, we get a bit of a pulse. On Friday, July 31st, the morning shows a 3.3 feet swell from the south with a 13-second period, light cross wind at 6 mph, and the combined energy is strong at 848. The score is a 2. That afternoon, the swell picks up to 4.9 feet from the south, wind shifts to a gentle cross breeze at 9 mph, and the energy is still strong at 815. The score is a 2. It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while. The wind is light and cross, so it won’t be glassy, but it’s not trashed either.

Then, the real standout. Tuesday, August 4th. The morning brings a 4.9 feet swell from the south, 15-second period, light cross wind at 6 mph. The combined energy is very strong at 1189. The score is a 2. But the afternoon is where it’s at: 5.2 feet from the south, 15-second period, still light cross wind at 6 mph, and the combined energy is 1355, which is very strong wave energy. The score is a 3, the highest we’ve seen in the entire forecast. For The Wedge, a south swell isn’t the optimum – the guidance says it prefers SSW – but when you get 5.2 feet of long period groundswell with light cross winds, it’s going to be good. The period is over 15 seconds, so it’s a very long period groundswell, which means the waves will have serious shape and power, and the sets will be spaced out. The Wedge is a breakwater, so it’s well-suited for that. This is the one to circle. It’s the best on offer. The crowds are likely here, as it’s often crowded, but for this kind of energy, it’s worth it.

After that, it drops off. Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd, are small and poor again, with scores of 0. Monday, August 3rd, is a write-off with

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