Thousand Steps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a flat spell to get through. The first few days are looking pretty marginal, with only small, weak swell that won't get you too excited. The real story is a long-period groundswell that shows up on Friday, August 28th, and hangs around for a bit. It's coming from the SSW, with a period of 17 seconds on the Friday morning, which is a classic long-range groundswell. That means it’ll have plenty of energy and shape, but those long gaps between sets will mean you gotta be patient.

The standout for the whole outlook is Saturday morning, August 29th, at Thousand Steps. We’ve got a clean 3 ft of SSW swell, period still a solid 17 seconds, and the combined energy is a healthy 665 (moderate). The wind is light SW, blowing straight offshore, so the surface will be glassy clean. The water is a very unusual 75°F, which is a good 7° warmer than average for this time of year. That’s a proper treat. The swell direction is right on the money for this reef break, and it’s a very consistent spot, so you’ll get plenty of waves. Just keep in mind it can get crowded sometimes.

Now, the rest of the period... it’s a bit of a mixed bag. After that Saturday morning peak, the wind swings more cross-onshore through the afternoon and into the following week, making things choppy and messy. The swell size stays small, around 2 ft to 4 ft, but the quality takes a hit. The energy drops off too, with values mostly in the 300-500 range. There’s a brief window on Thursday morning, September 3rd, with a bit of offshore wind and a 15-second SW swell, but it’s rated as marginal. The following week, from September 5th onward, the forecasts are pretty poor with persistent cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions. The energy is weak to moderate, and the period drops to 12-15 seconds. It’s just not worth paddling out for.

The second week looks like a continuation of the same small, wind-affected story. No real standouts. If you’re desperate, the morning of September 11th has a bit of a 15-second SSW swell with light cross-onshore wind, but it’s a long shot. The long-range stuff is always a bit less certain.

So, bottom line: if you’re chasing a wave, your best bet is to be on the water at Thousand Steps early on Saturday, August 29th. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. After that, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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