Vilas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a tough watch for anyone looking to paddle out at Vilas. To be honest, there’s not a single session in this whole 16-day stretch that I’d say is worth your time. The score is a flat zero right through. The wind is almost always cross-on or onshore, and the wave comment keeps saying “poor surf conditions.” It’s just one of those runs where the ocean isn’t playing ball for surfers.

The water temp is sitting at a warm 79°, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won’t be cold while you’re standing on the beach.

Looking at the first few days of September, nothing changes. Wednesday the 2nd afternoon is clear skies, but with a cross-on 12 mph breeze from the ENE and 5 ft of east swell at a short 9 seconds, it’s just messy. The combined energy is weak at 342, and it’s choppy. Thursday the 3rd is more of the same – morning brings a risk of thunderstorms, and the wind is still cross-on. The swell is 5 ft from the east with a period of 8 seconds, energy at 305. Choppy again. Friday the 4th is a little smaller at 4 ft to 4 ft, but still cross-on. There’s a slight bump in energy Friday afternoon to 377, but the wind is up to 12 mph, so it’s still choppy.

The weekend doesn’t offer any relief. Saturday the 5th morning has some clouds and a 2 ft south swell with a longer 13-second period, energy at 332, but the wind is cross-on from the ENE at 9 mph – still a no-go. Sunday the 6th is cross-shore with 4 ft swell, but the wind picks up to 16 mph in the afternoon, making it choppy. Monday the 7th has a tiny 2 ft swell in the morning with only 43 energy – barely a ripple.

The rest of the week stays poor. Tuesday the 8th has 4 ft with a very short 6-second period, and Wednesday the 9th drops to 3 ft. By Thursday the 10th, there’s a 2 ft swell with a longer 13-second period, giving 293 energy, but it’s onshore and with rain showers later in the day – still not surfable.

Into the second week, from the 11th to the 17th of September, it’s the same story. Swell heights bounce between 4 ft and 5 ft, but the wind never cleans up. On the 16th, there’s a spike to 5 ft with 588 energy (moderate), but it’s still cross-on and choppy with a short 7-second period. For a beginner spot like Vilas, anything over 5 ft is getting too big anyway, and with the wind, it’s just a mess.

Honestly, if you’re desperate to get wet, this looks more like a stretch for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The wind is there, even if the surf quality isn’t. For a regular surfer? Save your energy. The forecasts can always change, but right now, I’d give this one a miss.

Rusty.

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