Trestles (Lowers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks at Lowers.

Right off the bat, we’re looking at a bit of a flat spell, to be honest. The first few days, from the 23rd of August through the 25th, are pretty grim. We’re talking tiny waves, mostly around 2 ft to 2 ft from the SW, with a cross-onshore wind that’s just going to mess up whatever little bumps are out there. The combined energy is weak, barely cracking 300-400 (305-472), and the reports are all “poor surf conditions.” Honestly, not worth paddling out for.

Things start to look a little more hopeful around the 26th of August, but the wind is still a problem. The swell picks up a bit to 4 ft from the S on Wednesday, but it’s a short period swell (13 seconds) and the cross-onshore wind makes it choppy. The energy is getting up there (777), but it’s not clean. The 27th is similar, with a dropping swell and still that cross-wind.

Now, the real window of opportunity starts to open up on the 28th of August. Friday morning, the wind swings to the WSW, coming straight onshore but it’s light. The swell is 3 ft from the SSW, with a long period of 17 seconds. That groundswell energy is moderate (531) and the conditions are marginal. This is the first day that has a bit of a pulse.

But the standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the 29th of August. The swell builds to 4 ft-4 ft from the SSW, with a period of 16-17 seconds. That’s a nice, long period groundswell that Lowers absolutely loves. The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but the energy is cranking (815-890). This is the best combination of size, direction, and power in the whole window. It’s a solid 4 ft, not huge, but with that period, it’ll have some push. Keep in mind, with a period over 15 seconds, the waves might be a little tricky if you’re used to the beach break, but on a point like Lowers, it’s a dream. The crowds are always a factor here, so get there early.

The 30th of August holds a similar swell, but it’s a touch smaller (3 ft-4 ft, 14-15 seconds). Energy is still decent (519-683). The wind is light, so it’s a good option if you miss the peak on Saturday.

Then we hit a bit of a lull from the 31st of August through the 2nd of September. The swell drops, the wind turns more southerly and picks up, making conditions choppy again. We’re looking at 2 ft-3 ft with poor to marginal conditions. A bit of a dead zone.

The story picks back up on the 3rd of September. Thursday morning, the swell is 3 ft from the SSW, but with a very long period of 19 seconds. The energy is moderate (578) and the wind is light and onshore. This is a real groundswell, deep and powerful. The following day, the 4th of September, is promising too. The swell holds at 4 ft from the SSW, period of 17 seconds, and the energy is strong (898). The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it’s workable. This is another candidate for the best of the bunch, but being a week and a half out (September 4th), treat it as a promising alert.

The 5th of September holds similar, with 4 ft from the SSW at 16 seconds, and light onshore winds. The energy is strong (808-885).

Finally, check out the 6th of September. That Sunday morning, the swell is a clean 3 ft from the SSW, period of 16 seconds. But the wind goes completely glassy in the afternoon – 0 km/h from the WSW. That’s a rare, perfect window. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is a definite standout for the second week. It’s over a week away, so keep your fingers crossed, but it’s a proper session in the making.

The 7th of September sees the swell drop off again, closing out the window.

So, the surf is really patchy. The first week is a slow start, with the best action being the weekend of the 29th-30th August. The second week has a couple of nice pulses, especially the 3rd-5th September, and that glassy window on the 6th is a real treat if it holds.

The water’s sitting at that summer average, nothing weird to report.

Rusty, signing off.

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