Windansea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and degrees.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for a proper surf at Windansea. The water’s running warm though, sitting at 73°F which is a solid 5°F above where it should be for this time of year. That’s pretty unusual and noticeable as soon as you paddle out.

The first real shot at something rideable comes on Tuesday afternoon, August 25th. We’ve got a clean little 3ft SSW swell pushing in with a 13-second period, and the wind is light and offshore from the west. The combined energy is moderate at 505. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’ll be lined up and fun for a spin on a log. The tide might be a bit tricky, and the crowds are often here, so expect company.

Wednesday morning on the 26th bumps up a touch with 4ft SSW swell and a 12-second period, but the wind turns cross-onshore from the SSW at 9 mph, which messes the surface up. It’s a bit bumpy. The energy is up to 718, but the quality is marginal. The afternoon is similar with 4ft S swell, still cross-onshore, and not much better.

From Thursday the 27th through to the start of September, we’re stuck in a rut. Swell hangs around 2ft to 4ft, mostly from the SW, with periods around 14-16 seconds. The wind is light and often offshore, which is the only saving grace, but the scores are low and the wave comment keeps saying marginal. The energy drops from 381 down to 286. It’s pretty weak stuff.

Now, there’s a bit of a tease on Saturday August 29th. Morning and afternoon both show 4ft SW swell with a long 16-second period and offshore wind. The combined energy hits 718 and 756, which is moderate. That long period is good for shape, but at a reef break like Windansea, it can get a bit too straight and fat. Still, it’s the best looking window in the first week.

Then we hit a real dead patch. From Monday August 31st all the way through to Tuesday September 8th, the scores are zero or marginal, and the wave comments are “poor surf conditions.” Swell drops to 1ft to 2ft, periods are all over the place, and the wind picks up, especially from the WNW at 12 mph on the 2nd, which makes it choppy. The energy goes as low as 183 on the 7th. There’s a solid 8-day gap here with nothing worth paddling out for.

The only glimmer in the long-range is on Wednesday September 9th. The morning shows 4ft S swell with a 16-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 1364, which is strong. The afternoon turns it up with 7ft SSW swell, period 17 seconds, and energy at 2214. That’s the biggest swell of the outlook. But—and it’s a big but—the wind is cross-onshore from the WNW at 9 mph, creating bumps. This is a “keep an eye on it” situation. It’s promising but far out, and conditions could change. If the wind cleans up, that 7ft SSW groundswell will be a beast, but it’s only for experts at that size.

For now, the best on offer is really that Tuesday afternoon on the 25th and maybe the Saturday morning on the 29th. Everything else is a waiting game. Keep your board waxed and hope the forecasts shift.

Rusty

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