The Wharf Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey, Rusty again. Same story, but in feet and all that.

So we've only got one break to talk about for this entire 16-day forecast, and it’s a tricky run. The Wharf is a consistent reef that picks up south swell like a charm, but the wind is going to be a pain for ages.

The water’s about 81°F, right where it should be for this time of year, so no worries there.

The first time it even looks like you might get a wave that’s worth paddling out for is on the afternoon of Sunday, September 13th. We get some 4ft south swell building, with a period of 20 seconds. That’s proper, long-period groundswell with a lot of energy (1335), so the reef should have some nice shape. The wind is onshore from the east-southeast, though, so it’s not going to be a smooth face. It’s called marginal, and I’d say that’s about right. It’s a start.

Monday the 14th, the swell gets bigger, hitting 5 to 5ft from the south-southwest, period around 17 seconds. That’s a lot of juice, and for most guys it’s going to be a handful – anything over 5ft is expert territory here. The wind is still onshore, so the quality is poor.

Tuesday the 15th is a little better. The swell drops back to a nice and clean 4ft from the southwest at 16 seconds, and the wind is just a gentle cross-onshore breeze. It’s still only marginal, but it’s probably the best of the week leading up to it.

The real excitement comes on the final weekend. Saturday the 19th, the wind swings cross-offshore from the north-northeast. The waves are small – only 3ft from the south with a 13-second period – but it will be clean and glassy. Not much power, but fun.

Then Sunday the 20th, that’s the day. The swell jumps to 4-5ft from the south-southwest, period 19-20 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive (1775). The wind stays cross-offshore, but it’s a fresh breeze out of the west-southwest, which will keep the faces clean. On a reef like The Wharf, with that kind of long-period groundswell, you’re looking at fast, hollow, and strong waves. Sunday afternoon, it tips over 5ft, so that’s for the experienced crew only. The Wharf can get a crowd sometimes, so expect a few locals on it. This Sunday the 20th is the jewel of the entire outlook.

Simple as that: if you have patience, the very end of the forecast holds the best chance for a proper session.

Rusty.

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