15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's cast an eye over the next couple of weeks at 15th Street. It's a consistent beach and reef setup, usually a solid bet, but we've got a long stretch of 'meh' to wade through before anything decent shows up.

Right off the bat, water temps are sitting at 73°, which is a full 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a pretty wild anomaly for August, so the water's going to feel like a bath compared to usual.

The forecast shows a real dry spell. For the first week and a half, from the 16th through to the 27th, the surf is just not there. We're looking at tiny swell – mostly in the 2 ft to 3 ft range – with light onshore or cross-onshore breezes. The combined energy is weak, bouncing around (256 to 539) but never enough to push any decent shape. It’s a frustrating wait. The 19th of August does show a long period of 16 seconds from the SSW, which usually means clean lines, but the swell height is only 3 ft. It’s gonna be weak and disappointing, not worth a paddle.

That gap finally starts to break on Saturday, August 29th. The morning shows a 3 ft SSW groundswell (15-second period) with light offshore wind from the west. Combined energy finally climbs to a moderate 612. That’s the first window where the ocean looks alive. The water temp anomaly is still there, but by this point, you’ll be glad for the cleaner conditions.

Now, this 3 ft swell is gentle enough for all levels, but the long period (15 seconds) will push the sets through nicely. It’s a point and reef break, so that long-period energy won't just close out. The afternoon of the 29th nudges up to a 655 combined energy with the same 3 ft height, but the wind goes cross-onshore, so the morning is your clear window for the cleanest waves.

The Standout: If you’ve got the patience, the morning of Saturday, August 29th is the pick of the entire outlook. It’s the only real surfable day with that light offshore breeze and a touch more energy. Go Saturday morning or don't go at all. For the rest of the month, it’s a flat and frustrating wait. Crowds are "often" here, so expect company if you do paddle out.

That’s the long and short of it. Keep your eye on the 29th, but don’t get your hopes up for anything before.

Rusty.

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