38 Line Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. The next couple of weeks are lookin’ a bit grim for the most part, with only one real window that’s got any fire in it. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, junky waves for the most part, so don't get your hopes up too high. The ocean’s gonna be pretty quiet, but there’s one day that stands out like a sore thumb, and it’s worth planning for.

The first few days are pretty much a write-off. We’ve got some small swell on the 9th, around 5-6ft, but it’s coming with a cross-shore wind and a short 7-second period. The energy is weak to moderate, around 226-267, and the water’s gonna be a mess. It’s just not worth paddling out for that chop. The water temp is a notable 82°F, which is 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so if you do get in, it’s gonna feel like a bath. The swell direction is from the NE, which is fine for 38 Line, but the wind just kills it.

The 10th and 11th are smaller, with the swell dropping to around 3-4ft. The winds are lighter on the 11th, and Tuesday morning looks glassy, but the swell is just too weak and short-period to get excited about. The energy drops right down to the 80s and 90s. It’s surfable, but it’s gonna be a grovel on a log, not a proper session.

We get a little pulse on the 12th, with the swell back up to 5-6ft, but the wind is howling from the north at 12-15 mph, making it a cross-shore mess. Energy is moderate, around 250-276, but again, the conditions will be poor.

Now, here’s the one to circle on your calendar: Thursday morning, the 13th of August. This is the standout of the whole period. We’ve got a solid 10ft of NE swell with a 9-second period, and the energy is strong, way up at 1608. The wind is a cross-offshore from the north at 18 mph, which is going to groom it and keep it clean. The forecast says it might be too big for this break, and honestly, at 10ft, it’s going to be a handful. This is a session for the experienced crew only. The break is fairly consistent, so you’ll get your waves, but the power is real. The afternoon on the 13th drops to 8ft, but the wind goes cross-shore and it gets messy.

After that, it’s a slow slide back into nothing. The 14th has some junky 4-4ft cross-on waves, and then from the 15th onwards, we’re looking at a long run of tiny, weak surf. The swell drops below 3ft, periods shorten to 5-6 seconds, and the energy is minimal to non-existent. There are a few glassy mornings, like the 16th and the 20th, but with 2-2ft of swell, it's barely a ripple. The ocean is just flat and weak. The 22nd and beyond is basically nothing, with energy readings in single digits or zero. The last few days are a complete blank.

So, the takeaway is this: the 13th of August is the only day with any real size and power, and it’s only for experts. Everything else is a flat, weak, or messy battle. Keep your expectations low and wait for that one morning.

Rusty

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