Windmills Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a hard look at what’s on the table for Windmills over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a rough stretch.

Right from the start, there’s nothing good to report. The whole 16-day window is a write-off for decent surf. We’re looking at a solid two-week gap where there’s no recommendation to paddle out. The forecast is a long, drawn-out run of poor surf conditions, with most days showing a mix of messy cross-shore wind and weak, short-period swell.

Kicking off Friday, August 21st, it’s a no-go. The morning brings a tiny 3 ft NE swell with a period of just 7 seconds, and the combined energy is a weak 102. The wind is a light cross-shore breeze, but the surf is just poor. The afternoon bumps up to 4 ft from the ENE, but the wind strengthens to 15 mph, making it even less appealing.

The entire first week, from the 21st through the 28th, is a bust. The swell hangs around the 3 ft to 5 ft mark, but it’s almost always from the ENE, with periods under 8 seconds. The wind is a persistent cross-shore at 15-25 mph, keeping the surface lumpy and chopped. The combined energy values are mostly in the mid-100s to low 200s, which is moderate at best, but the quality is just not there. Even a bit of long-period NW groundswell pops up on the 24th and 25th, but it’s only 1 ft to 2 ft, and the wind is still howling. It’s a tease.

The end of the month and into September looks a bit heavier, but not better. On Sunday, August 30th, the afternoon sees a 6 ft ENE swell with a 12-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 980. That’s a solid pulse of energy, but the wind is still a moderate cross-shore, and the forecast is only marginal. The next day, Monday the 31st, brings a bigger 6 ft swell with a 13-second period and energy hitting 953, but it’s paired with rain showers and a fresh cross-shore breeze. The conditions are poor.

The real size comes in on Tuesday, September 1st, with a 8 ft swell from the ENE, a 13-second period, and massive energy readings over 2000. That’s serious, powerful groundswell. But look at the wind – it’s a near gale on Tuesday morning, turning into a severe gale by the afternoon. That’s blown out, dangerous, and only for the most experienced, and even then, it’s not worth it. That’s kite-surfing weather, not paddle-surfing weather.

Wednesday, September 2nd, is the closest we get to a positive note. The morning shows a 8 ft NE swell with a 12-second period, and finally, the wind turns cross-offshore at 22 mph. The surf will be clean, but the size is still big. The combined energy is a whopping 1687. This is a powerful, long-period groundswell hitting a reef break. It’s going to be heavy, with long lulls between sets. For a point break or reef, this could be a proper wave, but it’s advanced-only territory. The afternoon cleans up a bit, dropping to 8 ft, but it’s not a standout.

After that, the swell drops off through the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of September, but the wind stays onshore, and the surf remains poor.

So, the bottom line: it’s a two-week gap with no real surf options. The only time it gets interesting is the early part of September, but the wind conditions and size make it a tough call. Windmills is a fairly consistent reef, but the forecast is just not cooperating. Keep your board in the car, check the cams, and hope the forecasts change. These runs can break.

Rusty.

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