30th Street/Ship Bottom Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me take a look at what we’ve got here for the next 16 days. Honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead for the local breaks, especially around 30th Street/Ship Bottom. The surf is small and the conditions are mostly messy. We’ve got a lot of days with poor surf conditions and very little to get excited about.

Starting off, Thursday morning the 20th, there’s a tiny 1.3ft swell from the SE with a period of 9 seconds. The wind is glassy, so it’s clean, but the wave energy is weak (19). It’s just too small to do much with. The water is much warmer than normal at 77.9°, which is over 3.6° above the average for this time of year. That’s notable.

Thursday afternoon, the wind picks up from the south at 16 mph, turning cross-shore and making things choppy. Still only 1.3ft. Not worth paddling out.

Friday the 21st brings a little more height, up to 3ft, but it’s from the ENE with a short period of just 5 seconds, so the waves will be weak and choppy. The wind is cross-onshore and moderate, so expect bumpy surface conditions.

Saturday the 22nd is more of the same: small swell, poor conditions, with a risk of thunderstorms. The morning is messy with cross-onshore wind, but by Saturday afternoon, the wind goes glassy. The waves are only 1.6ft though, and the energy is low (39). You might get a tiny, clean wave if you’re desperate.

Sunday the 23rd, the swell drops to 0.7ft in the morning with a long period of 13 seconds from the ESE. That’s a long-period groundswell, but it’s just too small. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but there’s no power. Afternoon sees a bit more size at 2.3ft from the south, but still weak.

Monday the 24th, we have clean offshore wind from the WNW, but the swell is only 1ft with a 12-second period. Clean conditions but tiny waves. The energy is negligible (34).

Tuesday the 25th, a bit more size in the afternoon at 3.6ft from the SE, but the period is short at 5 seconds, and the wind is cross-shore. It’s small, weak, and bumpy.

Wednesday the 26th morning is the first time we see a surfable but ordinary rating. The swell is 2.3ft from the east with a period of 6 seconds. The wind is glassy, so it’s clean, but the waves are small and weak. Combined energy is 77. Not great, but at least you can float around.

After that, from the 27th through the end of August and into early September, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions. Swells stay small, usually under 3ft, with short periods and mostly onshore or cross-onshore wind. There’s a lot of clean conditions but no real swell to work with. You’ll see a few days with offshore or glassy wind, like the 29th and 30th, but the swell is only 1.3ft. It’s frustrating.

Then on Thursday the 3rd of September, we finally get a pulse of energy. The afternoon brings 4.3ft from the east with a period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy hits 119, which is moderate. Still, the conditions are poor and the wind is onshore. Not a great setup.

The best chance in the entire forecast window looks like Friday the 4th of September. The swell builds to 6.6ft from the east with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is 494 in the morning and 565 in the afternoon. That’s strong wave energy. The problem is the wind is onshore from the ESE, and conditions are unknown. It’s a marginal surf forecast with questionable tide. This could be a powerful, messy day. For experienced surfers only at this size. It’s the standout, but it’s far from perfect.

Bottom line: if you’re a beginner, stay away on the 4th. If you’re an expert and you’re desperate, keep an eye on that Friday. Otherwise, the next two weeks are mostly small and weak. Forecasts can change, so don’t write it off entirely.

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