Willow Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. Let’s be honest with you right off the bat: the next couple of weeks are not going to have you sprinting for your board. We’ve got a long stretch of average to poor conditions ahead, with only a couple of windows that look worth the paddle out. The water temp is sitting at 61°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t need the full winter suit just yet.

The first real chance of anything decent doesn’t even show up until the 11th of September, and even then, it’s a marginal call. Before that, from Wednesday the 9th through Friday the 11th, we’re looking at small swell, mostly around 2ft to 3ft. The energy is moderate at best (444 to 697), but the wind is a constant cross-shore, which is going to keep things bumpy and messy. Not worth getting wet for, honestly.

Then things get properly ugly. From Saturday the 12th through Sunday the 13th, the swell tries to push in, but it’s stormy, short-period slop. On Saturday morning it’s still small, but by the afternoon that swell jumps to 7ft from the WNW with a period of only 7 seconds. That’s a close-out machine at Willow Creek. Sunday’s not much better, with 4ft to 8ft of the same short-period junk and a fresh cross-shore breeze. The energy readings are moderate (300 to 683) but with that period, it’s just messy and unrideable for most. This stretch is more about watching the washing machine than surfing. If you’re into kites, this might be your window, because the paddle-surf potential is about zero.

The start of the next week, Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th, is still a write-off. We’re down to about 3ft to 4ft of weak WNW swell, and the wind is still cross-shore. The scores are poor, the vibe is flat. You’re better off doing something else.

Here’s where it gets interesting. On Monday the 21st of September, we finally get a proper look. The morning shows a glassy surface with a light offshore touch, and a clean 3ft SW swell rolling in with a solid 17-second period. That’s a proper groundswell. The energy is strong too, hitting 742. This is the standout of the whole window. Willow Creek is a reef break, so that long-period swell is going to wrap in nicely and hold its shape. The conditions look clean, and the potential is there for the best waves we’ve seen in this whole forecast. The crowds might be a bit of a factor as word gets out, but for this kind of clean, long-period pulse, it could be worth sharing the peak. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

After that, the week rolls on with similar sized SW swells in the 3ft to 3ft range, but the wind starts to muck it up again. Tuesday and Wednesday have more cross-onshore wind, keeping things a bit lumpy. The energy stays moderate (344 to 507), but the quality drops off. It’s not terrible, but it’s not going to be the same as that Monday morning.

The final days, the 24th of September, look poor again. Strong, messy cross-shore winds and a drop in swell size. That’s a pass.

So, there you have it. A long dry spell, a bit of a stormy mess in the middle, and one really promising clean session on the 21st of September. Keep your eyes on that one, it’s the best we’ve got on offer. For everything else, maybe work on your paddle fitness.

Rusty.

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