38 Line Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what 38 Line has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty flat. We’ve got a long dry spell on our hands. From Monday the 27th of July all the way through to the morning of Saturday the 8th of August, there’s barely a ripple worth paddling for. The waves that do show are tiny, below 2ft, with weak energy, and the wind is all over the place. It’s a real bummer, but it is what it is.

Then, things start to get a bit interesting, but not in a good way at first. From Saturday the 8th of August afternoon into Sunday the 9th, the swell does build, but it’s a messy, cross-shore wind situation. The swell comes up to 8ft with a combined energy of 1274, but with those 25 mph cross-winds, it’s gonna be a chop-fest. Honestly, with that wind and the beach break setup, it’s looking more like a kite-surfing day than anything you’d want to paddle out into.

Now, here’s where it gets really interesting and a bit of a tease. Looking at Monday the 10th of August, the forecast is pumping. We’re looking at a 16ft to 21ft ENE swell, with a period of 10-11 seconds, and the combined energy is massive – 4527 on Monday morning and 9720 by the afternoon. The wind is offshore and clean from the WSW, which is textbook. But here’s the catch – that’s just too much water for 38 Line. It’s an expert-only, big-wave situation at that point, and the forecast even says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. For the average surfer, it’s a spectator sport.

The days following, Tuesday the 11th of August, still have plenty of size – 10ft – but the wind switches onshore in the afternoon, making it messy. The morning looks clean with a light offshore, but that’s still a solid 10ft wave, which is pushing it for most.

So, the true standout? There isn’t a perfect one. The best conditions for a strong surfer will be the morning of Monday the 10th of August. The swell is huge (16ft from the ENE) with a very high energy reading (4527) and clean offshore wind. But it’s for experts only, no question. If you’re a beginner, steer well clear of that whole second week.

The water temperature at 38 Line is sitting at 78°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, about 4°F above average. You won’t need a wetsuit, that’s for sure.

Stay patient, and don’t bother paddling out until that second week unless you’re ready for a beating.

Rusty.

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