Thunder Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a seat, this is a tough one. There’s bugger all on the table for the next 16 days, so I’m just going to tell you straight. The forecast is a long, flat spell with barely a pulse.

Looking at the whole run, from Monday the 17th of August all the way through to Tuesday the 1st of September, the numbers just don’t stack up. We’re looking at a solid 16-day stretch with no real surf to get excited about. The swell energy is barely a whisper – we’re talking values like 18, 17, and even 0 at times. The combined energy of all swells directed here is weak, often in the single or low double digits. It’s a desert.

The only spot in the mix is Thunder. It’s a reef break, but it rarely breaks, and this run shows why. The waves are tiny, never getting above 3 ft, with periods mostly around 8 seconds – short-period, weak stuff. The wind is a constant cross-off from the east, which at least keeps the water surface clean, but with waves that small, it doesn’t matter. The water temperature is a warm 84°F, which is about normal for the time of year, but you’ll be doing more sunbaking than surfing.

Even on the days that look a tiny bit better, like Wednesday the 19th with a 3 ft swell from the SE, or late August with a 3 ft reading, it’s still listed as “poor surf conditions.” The score is a flat zero every time. There’s a brief moment on Monday the 24th where the wind turns offshore from the NE, but the swell is still only 2 ft. It’s a tease.

Honestly, for an area that’s this inconsistent, this blank run isn’t a surprise. It’s one of those periods where you don’t even bother checking the forecast. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the consistent breeze. Just wait it out; forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing to chase.

Rusty.

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