Zero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window for the Zero region is a tough one. The truth is, there’s not a single standout session in the whole run. The swell is tiny, the energy is mostly weak, and the conditions are rarely aligning for a proper paddle. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf ahead, so don’t get your hopes up for anything epic.

The first week is a real struggle. Through the 4th to the 10th of August, we’re looking at ankle-biting swell around 1 ft to 2 ft, mostly from the SW. The combined energy is low, mostly in the 90s to low 200s – not enough to get you excited. Winds are often onshore or cross-shore, leaving the surface messy. Even the occasional morning offshore breeze from the S isn’t enough to make a difference with that tiny swell. It’s a write-off for anything worth paddling out for.

Heading into the second week, things get a little more interesting, but still not good. Around the 13th of August, we start seeing some cleaner conditions. Thursday afternoon the 13th has a cross-offshore wind from the WNW at 9 mph, with a 2 ft SW swell and a period of 16 seconds. The combined energy hits 297 (moderate), and the report says it’s clean. That’s the first hint of something rideable, if you’re desperate. But it’s still small.

The best of a bad bunch looks like it’ll be the afternoon of the 14th of August. We’ve got a 3 ft SSW swell, a period of 18 seconds, and clean cross-offshore winds from the WNW at 12 mph. The combined energy jumps to 564 (moderate-strong), which is the highest we’ll see. That’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll have some push and shape, but it’s straight from the SSW, so it’ll be a bit tricky for the beach break setup here. The water is a full 8°F warmer than normal, which is very unusual for this time of year – that’s a weird one, but the surf stays small.

Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th keep the same theme: 3 ft to 3 ft SSW swell, with clean cross-offshore winds in the afternoons. The energy stays in the 300s and 400s, so it’s not totally flat, but it’s never going to light up. The waves are just too small, and the swell direction is hitting the break from a less-than-ideal angle.

Honestly, if you’re looking for a proper surf, this isn’t the window. The setup is better suited for a kite than a paddle. The swell is too small and the onshore wind patterns are a problem. It’s a blank run for surfers. Stay patient – forecasts can always change.

Rusty.

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