Thousand Steps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this isn’t one of those epic runs where you’re scrambling to find your wettie every day. We’ve got a solid 16-day window here, but it’s mostly small and on the marginal side. The swell is coming from the SSW to SW, which is a good direction for Thousand Steps (a reef break), but the size just doesn’t get up there for most of it. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing weird there.

The first few days from Tuesday the 18th through to the end of the week are pretty lackluster. We’re looking at tiny surf – only 1ft to 3ft of swell. It’s a very long period groundswell (13 to 16 seconds), which means it will have some energy, but it’s just not enough push to get you excited. The wind is mostly light, either offshore or cross-onshore, so the surface will be clean enough, but the wave size is the killer. The combined energy is weak, sitting between 118 and 327. Honestly, this is board-short weather, not really a paddle-out session.

We roll into the weekend of the 23rd and 24th, and it’s more of the same. Still small (1ft to 2ft), long period swell (17-19 seconds), but it’s a little too straight for a beach break. For a reef like Thousand Steps, that long period might actually wrap in okay, but it’s just so small. The energy is moderate but still low (237 to 276). It’s a “might get a fun little one if you’re patient” kind of deal.

Now, the one window that catches my eye is the end of the run. Saturday, August 29th is the true standout. Swell jumps up to 3ft to 3ft from the SSW, with a solid 17-second period. The combined energy hits 570 to 645 – that’s moderate energy and the highest we see in the whole forecast. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so the surface will have a few ripples but it’s still very surfable. This is a proper long-period groundswell that will really line up on that reef. For an intermediate, this is the best session on offer. Because it’s a reef, crowds are possible, so get there early.

Sunday the 30th tries to keep it going with 3ft swell, but the wind gets a bit more aggressive from the south at 12 mph, making it choppier. Not terrible, but the 29th is the cleaner option.

After that, into the first week of September, it fades back to 2ft to 2ft and the energy drops off. The consistent cross-onshore wind keeps it from being truly clean, and it’s back to the marginal stuff.

So, to wrap it up: this is a quiet period with one real highlight. Saturday, August 29th is your best bet. The swell is just over three feet, the direction is perfect for the break, and the energy is there. The rest of the time, you’re looking at a longboard or a day off. The gap between now and the 29th is a long stretch of small, average surf, but that one day makes it worth keeping an eye on.

Rusty.

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