Wildwood Crest Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are shaping up like for the Wildwood area. I’ll be straight with you – for most of this stretch, the surf is pretty ordinary, so don’t get your hopes up too high. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, nothing wild there.

We kick off on Monday, 24 August, and honestly, it’s a flat start. Tiny 1ft swell from the SE with a clean morning, but it’s just not doing anything. That flat spell runs through until Friday morning, 28 August. There’s a bit of a bump on Friday morning with a 2ft SE swell, period around 8 seconds, and a clean cross-offshore wind, but it’s weak combined energy (63) and only described as very ordinary. Not worth rushing out for.

We get another small window on Monday, 31 August. The swell is still tiny at 1ft from the SE, but the period jumps to 18-19 seconds – that’s proper long-period groundswell, which is interesting. The wind is cross-offshore and clean, and we see a combined energy of (75) and (91). But the wave height is so small it’s more of a knee-high glide than a proper surf. Worth a look if you’re desperate, but it’s not going to get your heart racing.

Then, things shift a little into the first week of September. On Tuesday, 1 September, the morning is clean with a 2ft SE swell, 15-second period, and energy reading (186) – moderate. The wind is clean and mostly calm by afternoon. Still knee-high at best, but that long period gives it some shape. It’s at the Wildwood Crest sandbar, a beginner-friendly spot that’s fairly consistent and gets exposed to that SE swell direction. The optimum swell direction here is SE, so this matches up well. It is quite often crowded there, so expect company.

On Wednesday, 2 September, we see a 3ft SE swell in the afternoon with a 14-second period, and energy (268) – that’s a moderate push. But the wind turns onshore and it’s poor quality, so that’s a write-off. However, the standout moment arrives on Thursday, 3 September. Morning starts with a solid 4ft SE swell, 15-second period, and combined energy a hefty (510) – that’s strong energy. The morning has strong offshore winds (40 km/h from NNW) which cleans it right up. By Thursday afternoon, it’s 3ft SE swell, period 14 seconds, energy (379), with a clean offshore wind. This is the best on offer – it’s only for experts though, as the swell is pushing over 3ft and the energy is serious. Beginners should sit this one out. It’s still a sandbar setup, so that long-period swell might make it a bit straight – but with that offshore wind, it’ll be lined up and clean. Standout session.

After that, Friday, 4 September, has a clean morning glass-off on a 2ft ESE swell, 12-second period, energy (151). That’s a nice, mellow session for the weekend crowd – probably busy. Saturday, 5 September, morning has a clean 3ft E swell, 11-second period, energy (291), with a light cross-offshore wind. Good conditions, but again, shallow sandbar and a bit gutless for bigger boards.

From there, it drops right off again. Sunday, 6 September, and Monday, 7 September, are poor – windy, choppy, tiny. The last few days of the forecast are flat and not worth a paddle.

So, to sum it up: the only true standout is the Thursday, 3 September sessions – that’s the one to circle. The first week is lean, the second week has a couple of clean small days but nothing to write home about. For a sandbar, you need a bit more size and punch to get anything proper. If the wind holds on the 3rd, it’ll be the pick of the lot.

Rusty.

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