Vilas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut through it: this is a tough stretch for Vilas. The next two weeks are looking pretty bleak for a proper surf, so don’t hold your breath.

The whole 16-day window is basically a write-off for quality waves. The swell is tiny and weak, often around 2ft to 3ft with short, choppy periods of 6-7 seconds. The wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, messing up any chance of clean lines. The combined wave energy is mostly in the moderate range (values between 76 and 460), but it’s all windswell – no grunt or shape to it.

The water temperature at Vilas is 79°F, which is about average for the time of year, so at least the water’s warm.

We do get a pulse of bigger swell right at the end of the first week and into the second. On Saturday the 1st of August, the swell bumps up to 5ft from the ESE, but with a 7-second period and onshore wind, it’ll be a messy, lumpy 5ft. The combined energy hits 214 (moderate), but the quality is poor. By Sunday the 2nd of August, it’s 6ft from the ESE, with a period still only 7 seconds, and a moderate breeze from the ESE – energy is 358 (moderate), but again, it’s just a choppy, blown-out mess.

The real tease comes on the 9th of August (Sunday morning). We get a longer-period swell from the south at 13-14 seconds, with a 3ft face. The combined energy jumps to 481 (strong). The wind is light and variable from the ENE at 5 km/h, making it a light cross-onshore. This is the only time the forecast mentions “marginal surf” instead of “poor”. It’s still a small swell, but the longer period will give it some push. The caveat? A long-period south swell at a beach break like Vilas tends to break too straight, so it won’t be the gem we’d hope for. Still, it’s the best on offer in the whole 16 days.

For the rest of it, there’s nothing. Days of tiny, weak, onshore slop. On the 8th of August, we see a 2ft S swell with a 13-second period, but the wind is onshore and the vibe is “poor”. It’s a real flat spell.

If you’re a kite surfer, the consistent onshore winds and building swell on the 1st-4th of August might be more interesting than it is for a paddle surfer. For us, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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