Wildwood Crest Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Wildwood Crest.

Honestly, the next week and a half is looking pretty flat and tough. The swell is tiny, the direction is all wrong, and we’re not getting any decent wave energy rolling in. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions ahead, so don’t get your hopes up.

Starting off Friday the 3rd, it’s a real struggle. South-southwest wind chopping up a tiny 1ft swell from the southeast with a period of 9 seconds. Water’s sitting at 73°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than usual – a touch warmer than normal, but that’s not gonna help the waves. Combine that energy at just 27 units in the water and you’ve got nothing to ride.

Saturday the 4th morning cleans up a bit with a light west wind, but the swell drops to 1.0ft. It’s glassy but tiny. Afternoon goes downhill again with a 15 mph south wind ruining it. Sunday the 5th morning gives a couple hours of dead glassy conditions with a light north-northwest breeze, but the swell is still 1.0ft and the energy is only 13. Not worth paddling out for.

Monday the 6th and Tuesday the 7th are more of the same. The swell hangs around 1ft to 2ft, but the wind is cross or onshore, keeping everything choppy and messy. Tuesday afternoon shows a little bump to 3ft, but the period is a shocking 4 seconds – that’s pure wind chop, no power, no shape. Energy hits 68 units, but it feels like a washing machine.

Wednesday the 8th has a tiny swell from the east at 2ft to 2ft with a 6 second period, but the wind is cross and cross-onshore. Still poor. Thursday the 9th is onshore and messy.

Then on Friday the 10th, we finally get a glimmer. Morning shows a clean, cross-off wind from the west-northwest, and a small 2ft swell from the south with an 8 second period. Energy is at 53. It’s surfable but very ordinary. Not a standout, just the first time in over a week you could maybe sit on a board and not get blown off.

After that, we go back into a gap of poor conditions through Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th, though Sunday afternoon goes glassy with zero wind for a moment – still only 1ft of swell, so pretty much flat.

Monday the 13th of July is the best on offer. We’ve got a clean, light offshore wind from the northwest, and the swell climbs to 3ft from the east-southeast with a 6 second period. The energy finally kicks up to 97, which is moderate energy. The waves will have a little push but the short period means it’s not going to be super clean. Still, for this stretch, it’s the clear winner. That morning window is your best bet for a surf, but don’t expect perfection.

Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th see the swell climb a bit more, up to 4ft to 4ft with periods of 7 to 8 seconds, and energy hitting 198 to 241. That’s moderate to strong wave energy, but the problem is the wind. Morning windows stay clean with a cross-off west wind, but afternoons get ruined by south winds. If you can get out early Wednesday the 15th, there’s a 4ft south-southeast swell, 8 second period, light cross-off wind, and clean conditions – that’s probably the second-best call.

Thursday the 16th morning is another clean morning with a 4ft south swell and light north-northwest wind. But by the time the arvos roll around, it’s back to onshore chop.

After that, it really drops off. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th are windy, messy, and the swell fades fast. Not worth it.

So to wrap it up: your standout is Monday the 13th of July morning at Wildwood Crest – the best combination of clean wind and the biggest swell we see in the first week. The second call would be Wednesday the 15th of July morning for a similar but slightly bigger window. Crowds are likely at this spot, so expect company. This is a beginner-friendly sandbar, and the swell is manageable for most. Just don't expect barrels – it’s small and short period.

Rusty.

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