Wildwood Crest Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – for the next 16 days, Wildwood Crest is looking mighty flat for a good stretch, and honestly, it’s a tough outlook for the dedicated paddler. We’ve got a long, quiet gap before anything even starts to look like a wave.

The pattern starts with a series of poor, small, and choppy conditions. From Friday 24th July right through to the end of the month, the swell is tiny, generally under 2ft, coming from the SE or E with short, weak periods. The wind is mostly cross-onshore, creating a messy, bumpy surface. The combined swell energy is low, sitting in the 20s to 80s, so there’s just no power in the water. The water temp is around 76°, which is about a degree warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the water is nice for a splash, but not for a surf.

We hit a brief moment on Tuesday 28th July morning with glassy conditions and zero wind, but the swell is a pathetic 3ft from the SE with a period of only 4 seconds. That’s windswell with no push, and the score reflects that – it’s just not worth the paddle out.

The first real sign of life doesn’t appear until Wednesday 29th July afternoon. The wind goes light cross-offshore from the WSW, and the faces clean up. Swell is a weak 3ft from the ENE, still with a short 6-second period. The combined energy is only 71, so it’s small and weak, but at least it’s clean. By Thursday 30th July morning, we get a brief offshore blow from the NW at 16 mph, with a 2ft SSE swell and a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy creeps up to 95, and the offshore wind will make it look better than it is. Still, these are tiny waves, not really worth chasing.

The second week, from August 1st onwards, is mostly a write-off. The wind swings southerly, bringing cross-onshore chop and lumpy conditions. The swell is small, mostly under 3ft, with poor energy. The only flicker of something bigger comes on Friday 7th August morning. This is our one standout in the whole 16-day window. You’ll see a 5ft swell from the south, with a 6-second period, but the combined energy jumps to 225 (moderate), and the wind is a clean, light cross-offshore from the SW. That’s about as good as it gets here in this forecast. It’s a small, clean wave, but it’s over 5ft, so true beginners might find it a bit much. The downside? It’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it, but don’t bank on it.

The rest of that week fades back into tiny, weak, and messy conditions. For a sandbar spot like Wildwood Crest, it’s a pretty blank run. We’re in a summer lull here. If you’re desperate for a paddle, Thursday 30th July morning with the offshore wind is your best early bet, but don’t expect much. For now, it’s more of a flat spell than a surf forecast.

Rusty.

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