West Shore Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about the local surf outlook for West Shore Beach. I’ve been staring at the charts and, honestly, it’s a rough stretch. We’ve got a solid 16-day window, but the first week is a write-off. The swell is tiny, barely registering, with a combined energy climbing from a weak 16 up to a modest 44 at best, but mostly sitting in the low teens. The water temperature is sitting at 53°F which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting a thicker wetsuit.

From now through the end of August, don’t bother. The waves are tiny, 0.7ft to 2ft, and the periods are all over the place, from a short 4 seconds to a long 13 seconds, but it doesn’t matter because the size isn’t there. The wind is variable, but the conditions are described as "poor." There’s a brief moment on Tuesday afternoon, the 25th of August, with glassy conditions, but the swell is still 0.7ft. It’s a tease.

The gap of poor, surfable waves drags on through the first week of September. The first real sign of life pops up on Tuesday afternoon, the 1st of September. We get a 2ft swell from the SE with a 9-second period, combined energy of 74 (moderate), and glassy conditions. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. The break is a beginner spot, "fairly consistent," but the optimum swell direction is NE, and we’re getting SE, so it’s a bit of a mismatch. The crowds are "often" here, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

The rest of the first week of September is a mixed bag of poor conditions and tiny swells, with the occasional cleaner but small window. The second week, from the 7th to the 8th, the energy drops to a pathetic 3, and the swell is 0.3ft. It’s a complete flat spell.

So, the standout? There’s really only one. The Tuesday afternoon, the 1st of September, at West Shore Beach. It’s the only window where you’ll get a wave you can actually ride, with glassy, clean conditions. The 2ft swell is small, but it’s the best we’ve got. The wind is light and glassy, which is a major positive. The crowds are likely, and the swell direction is not ideal, but it’s the only show in town.

Honestly, for the rest of the 16 days, it’s a bikini-and-beer day, not a paddle-out day. The surf is too small and too inconsistent. For a beginner spot, this is a normal dry spell. It’s not going to stay poor forever, but the forecast is what it is.

Rusty.

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