15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m lookin’ down the road for the next couple of weeks at 15th Street. It’s a beach and reef setup, exposed to the swell, and it’s a consistent spot, but honestly, the forecast is a real mixed bag. We’ve got a long stretch of so-so conditions ahead.

Right now, through the 17th and 18th of July, it’s pretty ugly. Small, weak swell and a cross-onshore wind are making a mess of things. The energy is all over the place, with readings around 331 (weak) to 480 (moderate), but the waves are too small and choppy to get excited about. It’s a no-go for paddle surfing.

Things start to look a little less hopeless from Sunday the 19th. The swell picks up a touch, with a 3ft to 3ft swell from the SW, and the wind swings offshore out of the west. That’s the key. The wave energy is climbing into the three-digit range, hitting 1055 (moderate) on Sunday afternoon. While the surf is still marginal, the offshore breeze will clean things up. The optimum swell direction is WSW, and the swell is coming from SW, so it’s not a perfect match, but it’s close. This is the first real chance to get a few clean ones.

The next week, from Monday the 20th through Thursday the 24th, is a frustrating plateau. Swell heights are mostly between 3ft and 4ft, with periods of 13 to 16 seconds, which is a decent groundswell pulse. The energy stays moderate, with combined energy readings between 652 and 962. The wind is often offshore or light cross-onshore, so the surf will be workable. It’s not going to be epic, but there will be waves. The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast,” but with the offshore wind, it’s worth a look.

Now, the standout. The best on offer is shaping up for Saturday the 25th of July. The swell is set to push up to 7ft to 7ft from the SSW, with a period of 14 to 16 seconds. That’s a solid, long-period groundswell. The energy is strong, with readings of 2613 and 2365. The wind is forecast to be light cross-onshore, not perfect, but light enough that the surf will be clean. This is the biggest swell of the period. For beginners, 7ft+ is a lot, but for experienced surfers, this is the day to be out there. The swell direction is SSW, which is close to the optimum WSW, so it should wrap in well.

Sunday the 26th through the end of the month sees the swell drop back. The 26th still has a 5ft swell on the morning with light offshore wind, making for a good session. The long-period groundswell (18 seconds) on the 26th afternoon will be clean with light winds, but that long period can make beach breaks a bit straight. The reef character of 15th Street should help that.

The last few days of July and into August 1st, the swell fades back to 2ft to 3ft, and the energy drops to very weak levels (177 to 382). The wind is back to cross-onshore, and the surf is poor. It’s a flat end to the outlook.

So, to wrap it up: the first two days are a write-off. The windows for a surf are Sunday the 19th through the 24th, with clean but average waves. The big standout is Saturday the 25th of July, with the biggest swell and a chance for some real power. After that, it fades. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no need for a winter suit yet.

Rusty out.

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