15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's get into it.

First off, the water is sitting at 71°F at 15th Street, which is a full 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That's a real treat, and it makes the small, clean conditions we've got on the horizon a bit more bearable.

Let's be straight with you: the first week is a grind. From Thursday 9th July right through until the middle of the following week, the surf is small and the quality is average at best. We're looking at waist-high waves, around 2ft to 3ft, from the SSW, with a period that's fine but nothing special. The wind is a constant cross-onshore for most of it, keeping things a bit bumpy. There's a spot of light offshore wind on the morning of Saturday 11th, and again on Sunday 12th and Monday 13th, but even then the swell is too weak to get excited about. The combined energy sits between 228 and 648 (moderate), which tells you it's just not got the oomph for a proper session. This is a real quiet spell, and you'd be better off waiting.

The real story, the only standout in this whole 16-day window, is the weekend of the 18th and 19th of July. On Saturday 18th, we see a jump in size. The morning brings 3ft from the S, but it's the afternoon where things get interesting: 5ft from the SSE with a period of 16 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1523 (strong). The wind is light offshore from the W, which is a major positive. This is a proper clean groundswell, and at that size, it's still manageable for most.

Then Sunday 19th is the pick of the lot. The swell builds to 6ft from the S, with a period of 14 seconds and a combined energy of 1579 (strong). Again, we have light offshore wind from the SW in the morning. This is chest to head-high, powerful surf. The only catch is the crowd situation – 15th Street is often busy, so expect company. The wind is cross-onshore by the afternoon, so get out early. This is the one to aim for.

After that, the swell drops back down to the 3ft to 4ft range for the rest of the week, with the wind turning cross-onshore again. It's back to the same old story.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off, save for a few brief windows of clean but tiny surf. Your one and only proper shot is the weekend of 18th and 19th July, with Sunday 19th morning being the absolute best on offer. The rest is just a waiting game.

Rusty.

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