Vilano Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it’s a bit of a slow spell, so I’d say keep the boards in the car but don’t rush to the water.

Right now, we’re looking at a stretch with barely a ripple. For the next week or so, from Wednesday the 9th through to Monday the 21st, the surf is really struggling. Swell heights are hanging around 1 ft to 4 ft, and the energy is weak – we’re talking values of 145 down to 16. The waves are coming from the ENE or ESE for the most part, but the periods are short, around 5 to 9 seconds, so it’s mostly windswell and not much grunt. The wind is generally cross-on or cross, and the wave comment is “poor surf conditions” all the way through. It’s a flat, crummy run.

The first spot to look at is Vilano Jetty. It’s a beach/jetty setup, and it faces the swell well from the NNE direction. The water temperature right now is about average for the time of year, so nothing crazy there. The jetty can sometimes get a few people, but with this tiny surf, it’ll be empty.

The only real blip of interest comes way out in the second week, on Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd. The swell finally picks up. On Tuesday the 22nd, we see a jump to 4 ft in the morning and 6 ft in the afternoon from the NE, with a short period of 6-7 seconds. The energy gets moderate to strong (146 to 336). That’s a bit more push, but it’s short period, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. The wind stays cross-on from the E, from 9 to 12 mph. It’s not clean, but it’s the best we have. Wednesday the 23rd holds at 5 ft from the NE, with similar energy (266-269) and the same lumpy, cross-on wind. Thursday the 24th bumps up to 6 ft from the NE, but the wind is cranking at 19 mph from the E, making it a fresh cross-onshore and lumpy mess. That’s a fair bit of size, but it’s not going to be pretty.

So, my honest take: the standout is the pulse on Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd. It’s the biggest swell of the window, but it’s short-period and messy. The wind is the main problem. There’s nothing here that screams “drop everything and go.” If you’re a beginner, the swell on the 22nd and 23rd is over 5 ft, so it might be a bit much for you. The Thursday the 24th swell is over 6 ft, so that’s expert-only territory, and with the strong wind, it’s a bit of a mess.

If you’re a kiter, actually, the setup on the 22nd-24th with the strong cross-onshore winds and moderate chop could be more interesting for you than for paddlers.

So, for the next 16 days, it’s pretty grim. The first week-plus is flat. The second week has a pulse of size, but it’s not clean. That’s the long-range call for you – promising on the size, but the wind is the big question mark. Hang tight, or check the forecast again in a few days.

Rusty.

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