Willow Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get a look at what’s on the table. Overall, we’ve got a sixteen-day window with a lot of marginal stuff, but there are a couple of windows where it could get fun on the right board. The water temp is about what you’d expect for the time of year, nothing weird going on there. Let’s break it down.

We start off on Thursday the 13th of August at Willow Creek (reef). It’s not exactly firing. Swell is small, only 2.3ft out of the southwest with a super long period of 16 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which usually means better shape but longer lulls. The wind is cross-onshore, light though, so it’s not messy junk, but it’s not clean either. The combined energy is weak to moderate at 368. It’s a marginal call for a reason – not really worth paddling out unless you’re desperate.

Friday the 14th is a bit of the same story. Morning has clear skies and a light cross-onshore breeze. Still 2.3ft from the southwest. The afternoon sees the swell nudge up to 2.6ft and shift a touch to the south-southwest, period hitting 18 seconds. Wind goes cross-shore with a gentle breeze. Combined energy bumps up to 658, which is moderate. It’s still marginal, but that’s the best we’ve seen so far. Not a standout.

Saturday the 15th morning has some clouds and light cross-shore breeze. Swell pushes up to 3.6ft from the south-southwest, 16 seconds. The energy is 751 – that’s solid moderate. Still no offshore wind, but the cross-shore is okay. The afternoon drops back a notch.

Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th flatline. The swell stays around 3ft but the conditions are just mediocre. Monday morning is a zero score – “poor surf conditions”. Not worth your petrol money.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. On Tuesday the 18th, watch the afternoon. Swell jumps to 7.2ft out of the west-northwest, but the period plummets to 7 seconds. That’s short-period, wind-driven junk. The combined energy is 846 (moderate) but that short period means it’s going to be a crumbly, gutless mess. Plus it’s cross-shore wind at 12 mph. That’s not a classic surf day – that’s a day to look at the kites if that’s your thing.

Wednesday the 19th keeps the short-period stuff going. Morning has 5.6ft from the west-northwest (8 seconds), afternoon spikes to 7.5ft from the same direction, period still 7 seconds. Combined energy around 800. That’s a lot of water moving but the quality is poor. Cross-shore winds don’t help. This is expert territory if you want to wrestle it, but for most of us, it’s a pass.

We then hit a real lull from Thursday the 20th right through to Sunday the 23rd. Swell drops back to 2.3ft or smaller, periods wander between 11 and 19 seconds. Combined energy drops to the low 400s or even 192 on Saturday the 22nd. Total poor surf. A gap of about four days with nothing worth mentioning.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th stay tiny. About 2ft, mostly south-southwest stuff, periods around 14-16 seconds. Not worth stressing over.

The last chance could be on Wednesday the 26th. Morning looks okay – 2ft from the southwest, 16 seconds, light cross-shore breeze. Not exciting. But hold on. The afternoon of the 26th shows 4.9ft from the west-northwest with a 7-second period. Combined energy 467. That’s a zero score – poor surf conditions again.

Finally, Thursday the 27th afternoon and Friday the 28th morning show a pulse. Thursday afternoon has 5.6ft from the west-northwest (7 seconds) with a moderate cross-shore breeze (16 mph). Friday the 28th morning has 4.9ft from the west-northwest, period up to 9 seconds, cross-shore wind 12 mph. The energy on Friday morning is 747 – moderate. These are the only days in the second week that even get a passing glance, and it’s still marginal. The period is too short for it to be proper, so it will be lumpy and wind-affected.

Standout pick: Honestly, there isn’t a true standout in this whole window. The closest we get is Friday afternoon the 14th of August at Willow Creek. 2.6ft south-southwest swell at 18 seconds, cross-shore wind, moderate energy at 658. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s the cleanest, most surfable wave in the whole 16 days. The period is long enough to give it some line. Expect a few other crew there – crowds are listed as “sometimes”, so don’t expect it

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