Willow Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. First up, the long-range picture for Willow Creek. There’s a bit of a slow start to this 16-day window, but the back half is where things start to get interesting.

Overall Pattern:

The next few days are looking pretty weak and messy. We've got some small swell, but the winds are mostly cross-shore, leaving the surface a bit chopped up. Don't get too excited about the first handful of days—it's more about checking the tide and picking your moments. The real potential kicks in around the 2nd of September and carries through the next few days.

Wednesday, 26th August:

Honestly, Wednesday morning is a bit of a write-off. There is a small 2ft SW swell with a long 16-second period at Willow Creek, but it's a light cross-shore breeze with those little wind ripples. It might be surfable if you're just desperate for a splash, but you're really working for it. The energy is weak at 371, and the afternoon doesn't look any better—the wind picks up and it gets a bit more cross-chop going. Not our day.

Thursday, 27th August:

There's a pulse of new energy early Thursday morning. Swell jumps up to 5.5ft from the NW, but look at that period – only 7 seconds. That's short-period windswell, and it's going to be pretty crumbly. The morning does have a light cross-offshore breeze, which will keep it clean, so if you're a beginner, this could be a fun one to mess around on. The energy is moderate at 646. But with that short period, it's not breaking with much punch. The afternoon gets a bit more crossed up again.

Friday, 28th August to Monday, 31st August:

This stretch is a bit of a holding pattern. The swell drops back down to under 3ft, with a long-period SSW groundswell, but the winds are mostly cross-shore and moderate. It’ll be lumpy and not overly inviting. The energy values hover in the low to moderate range. We're looking at marginal surf at best. Saturday has a bit more size at 4ft but also stronger cross-shore winds. It's not really a standout period. Just poor to marginal conditions. It's a gap where you might be better off doing something else.

Tuesday, 1st September:

Still small. Around 2ft, with light winds. Not much to get excited about.

Wednesday, 2nd September – The First Real Standout:

Okay, here we go. Wednesday morning is where it comes together. The swell builds to 4ft from the S with a 12-second period, and the wind is glassy. Absolutely dead calm. The surface will be like a mirror. This is a proper surf. The energy is moderate at 619. This is the cleanest, most inviting it’s been all week. Not huge, not massive, but it’s quality. A great day for a longboard or a funboard at Willow Creek (Big Island).

Thursday, 3rd September:

The swell builds more overnight, but the wind gets a little trickier. Morning shows 5ft from the S with a 13-second period, but it’s cross-shore with those small ripples again. The energy is strong, jumping to 1517, so there's some real push behind it. But the surface won't be pristine. The afternoon pushes to 5.5ft, but the wind turns cross-onshore, which will muck up the face. Still, the size is there. This is more for the experienced crew.

Friday, 4th September to Saturday, 5th September:

The swell backs down a touch to under 3ft, but Friday is just cross-shore and small again. However, Saturday morning (5th September) has another moment of glory: 3.5ft from the SSW with a 16-second period and glassy conditions again. That long period means proper groundswell, and with the light air, the sets will roll in clean. The energy is moderate at 744. But, remember, long-period swells at a beach break can close out a bit, but at Willow Creek it should be fine. Another day to point the car toward the coast.

Sunday, 6th September Onward:

The rest of the window is a mixed bag. Sunday and Monday have some waves, but they're sullied by moderate cross-shore breezes. The standout-looking day is Monday afternoon (7th September) with a 6ft W/NW windswell, but that has a super short 6-second period, which is going to be a mess. It's more like a chop-fest than anything. The energy is moderate at 689, but the quality will be poor. For the rest of the second week, it's mostly marginal, with the SSW groundswell returning but never quite lining up perfectly with light winds.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so a 3/2 wetsuit should be perfect for the early sessions.

So, what’s the call? The two best days are the 2nd and the 5th of September, especially the mornings. Go get some glassy, clean waves. Trust me on this one.

Later.

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