Thunder Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. I've taken a look at the only spot on the cards for this stretch, and the news is a bit of a bummer for the next couple of weeks.

First up, we’re looking at Thunder. This is a sheltered reef break that’s listed as "rarely breaks," so it’s no surprise we’re staring down a long, quiet spell. The pattern for the next 16 days is mostly flat, weak, and wind-affected. There’s a big gap of nothing from the start until Thursday, August 20th, and honestly, even when it does show a little life, it’s not great.

The first real pulse comes through on Thursday morning, August 20th, but it’s barely a whisper. We’re talking a tiny 2ft swell from the ESE with a short 8-second period. The combined energy is a weak 47, and with a 22 mph cross-offshore wind, it’s going to be a messy, blown-out session. Not worth the paddle.

Through that Thursday and into the weekend, the wind stays up, mostly from the E or ENE at 16-22 mph, keeping conditions cross-off. The swell stays small, hovering around 2ft to 3ft, with energy readings in the 50s and 80s. Periods are short, around 8-9 seconds. This is all background junk, not surfable.

The only glimmer in the whole outlook comes on Wednesday, August 26th, and it’s still a marginal call. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the SE, and the wind finally drops—light offshore from the NE at 6 mph. The energy is still weak at 64, but that glassy, clean surface would be the best you’ll see. It’s a tiny, disciplined wave, but if you’re desperate, that’s your window.

Then we hit another dry spell from the end of August into early September. There’s a last gasp on Tuesday, September 2nd, with a 3ft to 4ft SE swell pushing the combined energy into the moderate range (101 to 110). But the wind’s up again at 16 mph from the east, and the period is still a short 8 seconds. It’s a raw, wind-affected wall of water, not a clean wave.

Honestly, for a break that rarely breaks, this run of "poor surf conditions" is pretty normal. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so you won't get any thermal relief either. The only standout here is that Wednesday, August 26th morning, when the wind drops and the surface cleans up. Every other day is a washout.

If you're a kite surfer, the strong cross-off winds on the bigger days might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer, this is a two-week-long wait for a couple of hours of glassy, knee-high slop. The forecasts can change, but right now, I’d hang up the board.

Stay patient,
Rusty

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