Thousand Steps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright… I’ve looked over the charts and it’s a pretty grim stretch for Thousand Steps. The next couple of weeks are looking flat, weak, and cross-onshore for most of the run. No real standouts, mate. Let’s break it down.

We start off Thursday 20th August with a tiny 2ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, but the wind is cross-on from the SSW at 6 mph, making it choppy and poor. The water’s a touch warmer than normal at 71°F but that’s about the only positive. The combined energy is weak at 266 and it’s just not doing anything for surf. That pattern sticks around through Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – heights between 1ft and 2ft, cross-onshore winds, and scores all at zero. Not a single wave worth paddling for.

Sunday the 23rd shows a little glimmer with a 1ft SW swell at 19 seconds, but the wind is onshore from the SW at 3 mph in the morning, and the wave comment is “marginal.” Still, a long-period groundswell like that can wrap into reefs and points, and with light offshore wind, it’d be glassy. The combined energy is still weak at 253. But honestly, it’s a very marginal call – I’d give it a look but don’t expect much.

From Monday 24th through to the end of the month, we get a slow rise in swell, but it’s never enough. By Wednesday 26th August, the swell hits 3ft to 4ft from the S at 13 seconds, with combined energy climbing to 645 then 876 (moderate). Still, the wind is cross-on from the SSW or S at 3–9 mph, and the wave comment is “marginal” at best. The best of the whole run actually looks like Wednesday afternoon 26th August – 4ft S swell, 13-second period, light cross-onshore from the SSW at 3 mph, and the combined energy at 876. That’s the most energy we’ll see, but it’s still not clean. A surfer might get a few, but it’s not worth a special trip.

Thursday 27th August sees the swell nudge up to 5ft from the SSW at 14 seconds in the morning, combined energy at 988 – the strongest we get – but the wind is cross-on at 9 mph and the wave comment is “poor.” That’s frustrating. For big-wave crew, it could be on, but with the chop, it’s a messy one.

After that, the end of August and into early September sees the swell dropping back to 1ft–2ft, with cross-onshore winds and poor to marginal conditions. The whole period from now until September 4th has zero standout days. The best I can offer is Wednesday 26th August afternoon, but it’s a long shot.

This is a tough one. Thousand Steps is a reef that needs clean, lined-up swell, and we’re just not getting it. The water’s a touch warmer than average, but that’s small comfort. I’d say keep the board in the van and check back next week – forecasts can change. For now, it’s a blank run.

Rusty.

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