38 Line Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim out at 38 Line. We’ve got a whole lot of tiny, weak swell and barely any push to get excited about. Honestly, it’s a flat spell that’s going to feel like forever if you’re chasing waves.

Right now, into Saturday afternoon, there’s a touch of life in the water with a small NE swell at 1ft and a weak 6-second period. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s not going to be pretty, but there is something to roll around on. It’s not going to be worth the paddle unless you’re super keen. The energy is weak, only hitting 15.

The whole first week is a struggle. The swell stays tiny, never getting above 3ft, and the period is stuck around 5 or 6 seconds, which means it’s short, weak, and unorganized. There are some glassy windows, especially Sunday morning and Monday afternoon, but the waves just aren’t there. It’s the kind of flat where you’re better off finding something else to do. The combined energy is consistently low, mostly in the single digits to the 20s, nothing worth writing home about.

We do get a little bump of energy around the 25th, a week from Tuesday. There’s a NE swell that shows some more promise, with a period jumping up to 9 seconds and the energy climbing to 49. It’s still small at 1ft, but that longer period is a sign of more proper groundswell trying to push through. The wind is light and glassy in the morning, which would make it clean, but the swell size is just so marginal. It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s still not a day you’d plan your life around.

Towards the end of the run, around the 27th and 29th, we see some more energy, but again it’s all pretty average. The swell direction swings around to SE and NE, but size remains pathetic. The 27th has a 3ft SE swell with a 6-second period, but the morning wind is cross-offshore and the energy is at 45, which is more of a moderate kick. It’s probably the most interesting day of the whole run, but “interesting” is a relative term. It’s surfable waves, but ordinary conditions. It’s the kind of day where you might get a few grovelly ones if you’re in the right spot at the right time.

After that, it just fades out. The last couple of days of the month are a total washout with strong winds and barely any swell. It’s a big, fat zero for surf.

So, bottom line: this is a stretch to forget. The water temp is sitting at a normal 77° for this time of year, so you won’t need a spring suit, but you will need a lot of patience. There are no real standouts in this window. The most promising days are the 25th and the 27th, but they’re still pretty weak. If you’re a beginner, you’re not missing anything. For the more seasoned crew, it’s going to be a lot of paddling for not much reward. Keep your board handy, but maybe don’t cancel your plans.

This is Rusty, signing off.

Read more