Willow Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let's break down what's cookin' at Willow Creek.

Honestly, this forecast is a pretty mellow one. The wind is mostly from the northwest, which is a side breeze here, but it’s blowing a steady 12 to 13 mph for a lot of the time. That’s gonna stir up some side-chop, and with the wave comments all saying "marginal," it’s not a barnstormer. The water is a chilly 56°F, which is about 4°F colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a thick suit.

The first shot at a wave is on Tuesday, 28 July. The swell is about 4 ft from the SSW with a long 18-second period, but the side wind is a moderate breeze, so the surface is gonna be bumpy. The combined energy is moderate at 1075. Wednesday, 29 July, is pretty much the same: 4 ft SSW swell, still 16 seconds, but still that same 12 mph side wind. It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it.

Thursday, 30 July, starts with a small 3 ft SSW swell and a light breeze, which is a little cleaner, but it’s small. By the afternoon, the swell switches to a short-period 6 ft from the WNW at just 7 seconds, which is gonna be a messy, bumpy close-out. The energy drops to 681. That afternoon session is looking more like a kite surfer’s playground than a paddle surfer’s.

Friday, 31 July, through to Sunday, 2 August, is a bit of a mixed bag. The swell stays around 4 ft to 4 ft from the S and SSW, with periods around 14 seconds, so there’s some decent energy, but the wind is still side at 9 to 12 mph. The wave energy is moderate, between 779 and 1008. Saturday afternoon switches to a 6 ft WNW swell at 9 seconds, which is short and punchy, but again, the wind will keep it choppy.

Monday, 3 August, the swell drops a bit to 5 ft from the WNW, with a period of 10 seconds, and the wind backs off to a light breeze. This is a little better for shape, but the energy is dropping to 563. Still, a light side wind will give you a cleaner surface.

Tuesday, 4 August, sees the swell fade to 4 ft, and the wind remains light. The combined energy is down to 322. It’s small and weak.

Now, here’s the one window that has a bit of promise. On Thursday, 6 August, and Friday, 7 August, we get glassy or near-glassy conditions with a light breeze or even dead calm. Thursday morning has a tiny 3 ft WNW swell, but it’s glassy. The wave comment says "expect good surf conditions." Friday has a 4 ft to 4 ft swell from the NW with a 10-second period, and the wind is glassy. The combined energy is a moderate 443 and 440. On paper, these are the best conditions of the whole forecast. The swell isn’t big, but for a reef break like Willow Creek, a 4 ft groundswell from the optimum west direction with glassy wind is a legit standout. This is the one to circle.

After that, from Saturday, 8 August, onwards, the swell gets small and inconsistent, dropping to 2 ft to 3 ft, and the periods are very long—16 to 20 seconds. That long period will make the waves very straight and hard to surf at a beach break, but at a reef, it might still offer some lines. The wind is back to side or even onshore, and the energy is mostly weak, in the 200s to 300s. The last few days, 11 and 12 August, are poor, with the 11th afternoon flat-out listed as "poor surf conditions" with a 2 ft swell and 12 mph side wind.

Overall, the pick of the 16 days is the Friday, 7 August, morning session. It’s not a massive swell, but the glassy wind and clean conditions at a west-facing reef with a 4 ft NW groundswell is the best bet. Don’t get too excited about the second week; it’s a ghost town out there.

Rusty.

Read more