15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this outlook for 15th Street is a tough one. The next couple of weeks are mostly flat or just messy, with very few windows that get the blood pumping. We’ve got a long stretch of marginal to poor conditions, so don’t get your hopes up too high just yet.

The first real chance of anything surfable comes around Friday the 14th of August. We’re looking at a small SSW swell, around 2ft to 3ft, with a long period of 18 seconds – that’s classic groundswell. The energy is moderate, clocking in at 583 to 748. The wind is offshore from the west, which is a big plus for keeping things clean. But the wave comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions,” so it’s not a lock. The water temperature is 76°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid 8° above average, so that’s a bit unusual.

That Saturday the 15th looks a tad better. The swell picks up slightly to 3ft to 4ft from the SSW, still with that long period (16 seconds). Combined energy sits around 658 to 726, so moderate. Offshore winds from the west and WNW will keep the surface clean. Still, the forecast is only “marginal,” so treat it with caution. The long period means it’ll be a bit more powerful and better shaped, but at a beach-and-reef break like 15th Street, it can break a bit straight. Sunday the 16th is similar, with 4ft SSW swell and 14 to 15-second period, with offshore winds. Again, marginal.

After that, it drops off into a real dry spell. From Monday the 17th right through to Tuesday the 25th of August, we’re looking at mostly poor surf conditions. Swells hover around 2ft to 3ft, periods are short to moderate, and the wind is often offshore but the energy is weak – most days under 500. The wave comments are all “poor surf conditions” or “marginal.” It’s a long, flat stretch.

The only real standout, and the one that’s worth keeping an eye on, is Wednesday the 26th of August. That’s the one that has some grunt. We’ve got a 4ft to 4ft SSE swell, with a period of 16 to 17 seconds. The combined energy jumps right up – 1162 on the Wednesday morning, then 1399 on the afternoon. That’s strong wave energy, the best we’ll see all outlook. The wind is offshore from the west and then light, which is glassy. The wave comment is still “marginal,” but the score is a 2 and a 3 – the highest of the whole run. The SSE direction is a bit off the optimum WSW, but with that energy and clean wind, it’ll be the best chance. It’s a long way off, though, so don’t bank on it. The long period means it’ll be a groundswell with good shape, but at a beach setup, it might be a bit straight. Still, for experts, this is the one.

Overall, mate, it’s a quiet outlook. The 26th is the only day that really fires a warning shot. Keep the board waxed and hope the forecasts shift.

Rusty

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