The Window Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at a solid 16-day window for The Window.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a serious pulse of energy hitting the reef. The window opens on Tuesday the 18th of August, but don’t get too excited just yet. The swell is a thumping 15ft from the WSW with a very long 16-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at a massive 8820 (strong to very strong wave energy). The problem is, the wind is ripping from the NW at 16 mph, making it a messy cross-on. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 66°, which is a little unusual for this time of year. Conditions are poor, so you’re better off taking a look and waiting.

Wednesday the 19th is more of the same: big 15ft swell, long period, and cross-on winds. The Window is a reef break, so it can handle swell, but the wind is just chopping it up. Thursday the 20th sees the swell drop a touch to 13ft, still with a 16-second period, but the wind eases to a gentle breeze. It’s still cross-on, so we’re looking at “marginal” conditions.

Now, Friday the 21st of August is where it gets interesting. The morning session is looking like a genuine standout. Swell is still a hefty 12ft from the WSW, with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is very strong at 5010. But the wind goes glassy – a light easterly breeze at just 3 mph. The report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the pick of the first week. The Window is a reef break, and with that long-period groundswell, it’s going to be firing, but it’s steep and powerful, so only for the crew who know what they’re doing. The afternoon sees the wind shift, so the morning is the window.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are still in the 8ft to 10ft range, but the wind is cross-shore or cross-on, keeping the quality down. Monday the 24th is a write-off with strong cross-on wind.

There’s a massive gap after that. The next sniff of quality doesn’t come until Wednesday the 26th of August. The afternoon session shows a 15ft swell from the SW, 15-second period, and the wind drops to a gentle cross-shore breeze. The energy is back up to 8628 (very strong). It’s rated as “marginal,” but it’s a step up from the garbage before it.

The real second chance comes on Thursday the 27th of August. The morning has a 12ft swell from the SW, 13-second period, and the wind is offshore from the ENE at 9 mph. The report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” The afternoon is also clean with a 10ft swell. This is your second standout. The Window is a reef, and with that offshore wind, it should be holding a nice line.

The rest of the run into the first week of September is a mixed bag. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th are smaller and choppy. Monday the 31st of August has a clean morning with a 8ft swell and light cross-off wind, a solid option for the more experienced.

The last real stand-out is Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning shows a 12ft swell from the WSW, 15-second period, and the wind is cross-off at 9 mph. The energy is 4893 (strong), and the report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a promising long-range call, but it’s a bit far out, so keep your fingers crossed it holds.

Overall, the best waves are for the experienced crew. The standouts are the morning of Friday the 21st of August (glassy, 12ft WSW) and the morning of Thursday the 27th of August (offshore, 12ft SW). The Window is a reef, so it can handle the size, but it gets critical. Crowds are possible there, so be ready to share. If you’re a beginner, stay out of the water when it’s over 8ft, which is most of this forecast.

Rusty.

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