Willow Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty checkin’ in from the local lineup. Let’s talk about what we’ve got comin’ down the pipe.

Look, Willow Creek is the only spot on the menu for the whole 16-day run, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. The whole forecast period is a mixed bag of marginal conditions and poor surf. There’s no single day that screams “go,” but there are a few windows where you might just scratch an itch if you’re desperate.

We start off on Friday, August 21st, with a tiny 2ft SSW swell rolling in. It’s got some decent period to it at 13 seconds, but the wind is a cross-shore from the NW at 9 mph, which isn’t doing us any favours. The wave energy is weak (294), and the conditions are described as marginal with a slight cross-chop. It’s not great, but for a beginner-friendly reef break, it’s about as good as it gets for the first week. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Saturday and Sunday (22nd and 23rd) are more of the same – tiny swell, cross-shore wind, and only marginal scores. The best chance for a slightly better wave this first week comes on Wednesday, August 26th, and Thursday, August 27th. We see a bit of a pulse in the combined swell energy, hitting around 869 and 1026 on Wednesday, with a 4ft S swell and a 15-second period. That’s a long-period groundswell, which at a reef break like Willow Creek should offer some shape, but the cross-shore wind (9-12 mph) will keep it from being truly clean. Still, it’s the best of a weak bunch.

The whole first week is a grind. Don’t expect much.

Now, lookin’ into the second week, things get a little more interesting, but there’s a big caveat. From Sunday, August 30th, the swell starts to ramp up, but it’s coming from the WNW with a short, choppy period (6-8 seconds). That’s windswell, and it’ll be messy. By Wednesday, September 2nd, we’ve got a solid 7ft NW swell with an 11-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1760. That’s real power. The wind is still a cross-shore, but it’s lighter (9 mph) on the morning session. This is a standout for the more experienced surfers. Anything over 8ft is for experts only, so this 7ft swell is right on the edge of being too big for beginners. The long period means it’ll have good shape, but at a reef, that’s a good thing.

The real standout of the entire 16-day window, though, is Friday, September 4th. We’ve got a 7ft WNW swell, with an 11-second period, and the wind drops to a light 6 mph cross-shore. That’s the cleanest wind we see in the whole forecast. The combined energy is a strong 1389. This is your best bet. It’s still a big swell, so it’s for the crew who know what they’re doing, but the conditions are promising. It’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it, but it’s the one I’d be circling on the calendar.

Saturday, September 5th, the swell drops back to 5ft, and the wind goes nearly glassy at 3 mph, but the period drops to 10 seconds. It’ll be smaller and cleaner, but less powerful.

Overall, it’s a lean run. The first week is a write-off for anything decent. The second week offers a couple of solid, powerful swells, but the wind is never truly offshore. If you’re an experienced surfer, the 2nd of September and the 4th of September are your days. For everyone else, maybe just wait for the next forecast.

Rusty, out.

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