Tices Sholls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got the skinny on what’s cooking for the next couple weeks. Let’s get into it.

First off, I won’t lie to you – it’s a pretty flat spell ahead. We’re looking at Tices Sholls (sandbar), and it’s a beginner-friendly spot, but the swell window is seriously lacking. The water is sitting at 76°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a nice bonus if you’re just keen for a paddle.

We start things off on Wednesday the 26th with practically nothing. Swell heights are barely 1ft out of the SE, with a short period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is a weak 29. Wind is glassy in the morning, which is nice, but the surf is just poor. This lean stretch rolls through the rest of the week and into the weekend. Thursday morning the 27th has a bit more energy (84) but it’s windy and cross, and the swell is still tiny. Friday the 28th morning offers a slight glimmer – 2ft from the ESE, a light offshore breeze, and the combined energy bumps up to 106. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Still, for a total lack of swell, it’s the best we’ve got early on.

Saturday and Sunday the 29th and 30th are a write-off, with tiny swell and messy cross-shore winds. Monday the 31st is glassy in the afternoon, but the swell is only 1ft with a period of 7 seconds – that’s just lake conditions. The first week is a total dud.

Moving into the second week, we finally see a pulse. On Wednesday the 2nd of September, the morning looks promising with a clean 1ft swell from the SE, but here’s the kicker: the period jumps to 12 seconds, and the combined energy is 77. That’s a groundswell signal, and the offshore wind (NW at 6 mph) will make it clean. The swell is still small, but the longer period means better shape and more energy. It’s still a survivor wave, but the best of the early second week.

Thursday the 3rd of September sees a slight rise in size (3ft to 4ft from the ENE) but the period drops to 5-6 seconds, and the wind is cross. Energy is moderate (113), but the quality is poor. The real standout is Tuesday the 8th of September. The morning brings 5ft from the SSE with a period of 6 seconds, and a light offshore (WNW at 9 mph). The combined energy is 174 – moderate. That’s a solid, clean, surfable wave. The afternoon gets even better: 5ft from the SSE, light cross-offshore wind, and energy jumps to 223. This is the best session of the whole outlook. The swell is solid, the wind is good, and the break is exposed to the SE, so it’s catching that SSE energy well. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and fun. For a sandbar, the short period (6 seconds) means it won’t be too snappy, so it’s a good option for beginners.

After that, Wednesday the 9th of September has heavy rain and messy winds, so it’s a washout, and the rest of the week fades back to near-flat with poor conditions.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a total bust. The second week shows a pulse, with Tuesday the 8th of September being the clear standout. If you’re not surfing that, you’re not surfing much. The rest is just waiting for the next change.

Rusty.

Read more