Tices Sholls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. It’s looking flat as a pancake out here for the next stretch, so you might want to dust off the longboard or just enjoy the beach for a bit. The first real chance of anything remotely rideable doesn’t show up until Saturday morning, the 8th. There’s a small pulse of south swell pushing in, but it’s pretty weak.

The water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, about 77°, so that’s a bonus if you’re just going for a swim. The energy in the water is on the low side, with combined energy readings around 152 on Saturday morning, which is weak to moderate. It’s clean though, with a gentle cross-offshore breeze, so the surface will be smooth. We’re looking at a little 3ft wave from the SSW, but it’s got a short 6-second period, so it’s going to be soft and lumpy. Not a standout, but if you’re desperate, it’s surfable.

Sunday morning brings a bit more of the same, with 3ft of SSW swell and a 7-second period. Combined energy drops to 74, which is weak. Winds are light and cross-offshore again, so it stays clean. It’s an ordinary kind of day, the kind where you’re checking it and decide maybe a coffee is a better use of time.

Then we hit a real lull. From Monday the 10th right through to Tuesday the 19th, there’s basically nothing. The swell just fades away, dropping to 1.0ft and even 0.7ft at times. Energy readings tank, getting down to single digits. The wind is all over the place – cross, onshore, even a touch of glassy early on the 13th, but there’s just no waves to make any of it matter. It’s a long, flat stretch that’s going to test your patience. We’re talking about a week plus with no recommendations.

Now, the light at the end of the tunnel. Around Thursday the 20th, things start to wake up. We finally get a pulse of longer-period southeast groundswell. The morning is looking the better of the two, with 3ft of SE swell at an 8-second period, and the energy jumps up to 157, which is moderate. The wind is light offshore from the WNW, so it should be clean. It’s still small, but it has a bit more push to it than what we’ve seen. This is your best bet of the whole window, but keep your expectations in check.

The following day, Friday the 21st, sees the swell size bump up a bit to 4ft and 4ft, but the period drops back down to 5-6 seconds, and the wind swings onshore from the ENE. That’s going to chop it up and make it messy. The energy is moderate, but the conditions will be poor. Not worth the paddle.

So, overall, the standout is Thursday morning the 20th at Tices Sholls. It’s a sandbar, so don’t expect perfection, but it’s the most promising conditions in a long, flat period. The swell direction from the SE is right in the sweet spot for this spot. It’s a beginner-friendly break, so the small size is fine, and the clean conditions will be a welcome change. The rest of the window is a write-off. Keep the board in the car for the 20th.

Rusty

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