Thousand Steps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, let's talk about the next couple of weeks at Thousand Steps. It’s a reef that’s usually pretty reliable, but right now we're in a bit of a lull. The surf is going to be small and weak for most of this stretch, so don't get your hopes up for anything substantial. The water is running much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a bit odd, but it doesn't change what’s going on in the water.

The first few days, from August 6th through the 8th, are a total loss. We're looking at waves around 2ft to 2ft, coming from the SSW with a messy period. The wind is going to be cross-onshore from the west, making things choppy and rough. The energy is weak, around 203 to 294, which is just not enough to make this reef fun. You'll be scratching around for anything with a pulse.

The weekend of the 9th and 10th is more of the same. The surf stays small, around 2ft, and while the wind is lighter, the quality is still poor. The period drops a bit, but with that size, it's just not gonna have any power. It's a grind, plain and simple.

The middle of next week, from the 11th to the 13th, is a repeat. Small surf, poor conditions, and a lot of iffy tides. The swell direction shifts a little more to the SW, but the size just isn't there. It's not worth getting excited about.

Now, let's talk about the one real window of opportunity. Around the 14th and into the 15th, we see the energy pick up. The combined energy jumps from the weak 200s into the 400s and 500s, which is a big difference. The swell height also gets a little better, reaching 3ft to 3ft by the afternoon of the 15th. The direction is still SSW, with a period around 16 seconds. This is the best it's going to get. There's more push, more life in the water. The wind will still be cross-onshore, so it won't be glassy, but it'll be the most surfable it's been all forecast. The 16th still has some of that energy, but it starts to fade.

After that, it's back to the small stuff. From the 17th through the 21st, we're back to weak, dribbly surf. The energy drops back to the 200s, and the size is around 2ft to 3ft. There are a few mornings with onshore wind, but the swell is just too weak to make any of it work. The period is okay, but it doesn't matter when there's no size behind it.

So, your only real shot here is that Thursday the 14th and Friday the 15th. It's not huge, but it's the most energy we see. The wind won't be perfect, but it's the closest we get to anything decent. The rest of the time, you're better off doing something else. Crowds here can be a thing sometimes, but with this small surf, you probably won't have to worry about the lineup being too packed.

For the next two weeks, this spot is more about cruising on a longboard than getting a real wave. The energy just isn't there. It's a real shame, because when this reef fires, it's good, but we need the ocean to cooperate.

Rusty.

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