Willow Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Willow Creek over the next couple of weeks.

Alright, straight up, it’s a bit of a slow start. There’s nothing really worth paddling out for until Friday the 4th, and even then, it’s pretty average. The first shout is a little 3.3ft SSW groundswell rolling in on Friday morning, with a very long 17-second period. The water is sitting at 59.5°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. The wind is a light cross-on from the west, so it’s not going to be clean, but the swell energy is moderate (949). Honestly, it’s marginal. The afternoon picks up a bit to 3.6ft, but the wind swings cross-shore, so it’s still a bit lumpy.

Now, Saturday the 5th is where things get interesting. That morning, we’ve got a 4.3ft SSW swell, still with that lovely long 16-second period, but the real kicker is the wind. It’s glassy. Absolutely still. The water is calm, and the waves are going to be clean and lined up. The energy is moderate (978). This is the standout of the first week. If you can get out there Saturday morning, do it. It’s a beginner-friendly reef break, so it’s not too heavy, but the consistency is good. It’s exposed to the west swell, so it’s pulling in that SSW energy nicely. Just be aware that the crowds show up *sometimes*, so you might have a few people out there.

Sunday the 6th drops off a bit, with 3.3ft and the wind turning cross-shore, so it’s messy. Not worth it.

Monday the 7th sees a new pulse of swell from the south, pushing 5.6ft on the morning. The period is shorter at 14 seconds, but the energy is strong (1269). However, the wind is cross-shore, so it’s not going to be clean. That’s a bit of a bummer because that’s a decent size for a beginner spot. Over 5ft and it’s starting to get a bit much for learners.

Tuesday the 8th morning is another glassy window. Swell is 4.9ft from the south, with a 13-second period. The wind is dead calm from the west. This is a solid second-best option. The waves will be clean, but at 4.9ft, it’s right on the edge of being too big for beginners. The energy is moderate (814). Again, crowds are possible.

Wednesday the 9th morning has a little 4.3ft south swell, but the wind is cross-offshore from the north. That’s a good sign for a clean face. The energy is a bit weaker (609), but it’s a solid session for the more experienced.

After that, things get a bit messy. Thursday the 10th morning has a glassy 3.3ft SW swell with a long 17-second period, which is nice, but the energy is moderate (917). The afternoon jumps to 5.2ft, but the wind is cross-shore, so it’s a bit lumpy.

Then we hit a rough patch. Friday the 11th through Tuesday the 15th is basically a write-off. The wind is howling from the southeast at 18.6 mph on Friday, making it lumpy and poor. The swell drops to 2.6ft to 3.0ft, and the energy is weak. The waves are just not worth the hassle. There’s a gap of about 4 days with no real recommendations.

Things start to look a little more promising later in the second week, but it’s way out there. Wednesday the 16th shows a 4.6ft, but the period is a short, choppy 6 seconds, and the wind is cross-shore. Not great.

Thursday the 17th morning has a tiny 1.3ft, but with a very long 22-second period. That’s a groundswell, but it’s almost too small to do anything with. The afternoon, however, jumps to 6.9ft from the WNW, but the period is a short 7 seconds. That’s a big, lumpy, messy wave. Over 8.2ft and it’s expert-only, but 6.9ft with short period is just a washing machine. The energy is moderate (545).

Friday the 18th afternoon brings a 8.2ft WNW swell, with a 9-second period. That’s a big, powerful swell, but the period is short, so it’s going to be a close-out situation. The energy is strong (1272), but the wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s not going to be clean. This one is for experts only.

Finally, Saturday the 19th afternoon has a solid 6.9ft NW swell with a 10-second period, and the energy is very strong (1547). The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so it might be a bit lumpy but manageable. This is another big one, so leave the beginners at home.

So, to wrap it up: your best bet is

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