Turtle Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me level with ya. I've had a look at what's on the table for Turtle Cove over the next couple of weeks, and I gotta tell ya, it's a bit of a rough stretch. We've got one tiny window where things might get interesting, but for the most part, this is a waiting game.

Right now through the end of September, it’s pretty flat. We're talking tiny, weak swells mostly under 2 ft, with combined energies barely cracking 50. That's barely a ripple. The water temp is sitting at a pleasant 69°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, but there's just no push to back it up.

The story starts to change a little around Sunday the 20th. We see a jump to a 3 ft SSW swell, but with a short period of only 6 seconds and a nasty cross-onshore wind, it's gonna be a choppy, messy affair. Not worth paddling out for.

Now, here’s where I get a little excited but have to keep my feet on the ground. From Monday the 21st right through Wednesday the 23rd, we've got some real size building. The swell jumps to 5 ft from the East on the 21st and 22nd, pushing combined energy up over 200 – that's moderate energy. But the real kicker comes on Wednesday the 23rd, with a 7 ft ESE swell. That's a solid 489 of combined energy, strong stuff. This is the standout period, but there's a huge catch.

The wind is a total killer. For the 21st and 22nd, it's onshore or cross-onshore East winds at 12-16 mph. That's gonna chop it up bad. On the 23rd, it's a fresh cross-onshore from the SSE at 19 mph. For a reef and point break like Turtle Cove, that wind direction will ruin it. The waves will be lumpy, messy, and closed out. If the wind had been offshore, this would have been a day to call in sick for work.

Now, by Thursday the 24th, the wind finally swings cross-off from the SSW at 22 mph, cleaning it up beautifully. The swell drops to a still-chunky 6 ft (572 combined energy), but those strong winds and long period will make for incredibly clean, powerful lines. This is actually a very interesting prospect for expert surfers who can handle the paddle out. The swell direction from ESE is a little off the optimum SE for Turtle Cove, but with that glassy wind, it might just wrap in nicely.

After that, it drops off fast. By Friday the 25th we're back to small, weak, and choppy. The whole run from the 14th to the 19th is a write-off. You're looking at over a week of flat, unrideable conditions. It's a tough outlook, but that's the way it lays down sometimes.

So, if you’re an experienced surfer who can handle big, clean water, Thursday the 24th is your only real shot. For everyone else, you might as well save your energy and wait for the next proper swell.

Rusty

Read more