Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's break down what's coming down the pike.

Straight up, this is a tough stretch at Whale Rock. We're looking at a real lean run for the next week and a half or so, with barely anything to get stoked on. The only time we get a sniff of something half-decent is right at the very tail end of the 16-day window. From now until about September 16, the conditions are pretty much all crossed off the list with poor surf quality. There's a long gap with no real recommendations.

We start off on Friday the 4th with a solid 10ft of S swell, but it's a messy, lumpy mess with a 22 mph cross-onshore wind. The wave energy is very strong (1817), but it's all for nothing with that wind. This pattern of decent size being wrecked by onshore wind just continues day after day. Even when we see a few feet of swell, like Sunday the 7th with a 7ft S swell and very strong energy (2417), it's blowing 25 mph onshore. It's more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.

Things start to look a little more interesting around September 15. Tuesday the 15th sees a 7ft E swell with a light cross-onshore breeze, and the energy is strong (1105). It's still marginal, but it's an improvement. The real standout window, though, is the 16th and 19th.

For the more experienced crew, mark your calendar for Wednesday, September 16. The afternoon sees a solid 12ft SSW swell. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, which ain't perfect, but it's a whole lot cleaner than what we've had. The energy is very, very strong (3453). This is a powerful, long-period groundswell (12 seconds) that will swing into the break. Because Whale Rock is a reef break, that long-period energy should wrap in nicely and offer some proper, heavy barrels. It's only for experts at this size, and given it's usually inconsistent and can get crowded, you'll want to time it right.

Then, on Saturday, September 19, the forecast is showing a massive 13ft SW swell with a gentle cross-onshore breeze. The combined energy is off the charts at 7624. This is the biggest pulse of the forecast, and the conditions look the best they'll be for that size. It's huge, heavy, and only for the top-shelf chargers. This is the one to keep an eye on, though it's a long way out so don't cash in your chips just yet. The water temp is around 69°F, which is pretty average for this time of year.

So, the call is: suffer through the crud for the next ten days, stay ready for that Wednesday the 16th if you're a proper expert, and if you're a real glutton for punishment, start dreaming about Saturday the 19th.

Rusty.

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