15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on the table for 15th Street over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this isn't a screaming forecast. We're looking at a long stretch of small, often messy surf. The first real opportunity to even consider a paddle won't come until Wednesday, September 16th, and even then, it's a marginal call.

The pattern is stubborn: mostly small southwest swells, with periods that are all over the place. We've got some long period stuff sneaking in, but the energy is moderate at best, with combined swell energy kicking around the 300 to 500 range – nothing that's going to get your heart racing. The biggest issue is that the wind is mostly cross-onshore, which is just no good for a spot that's as exposed as this one. It's going to be choppy and bumpy.

Now, for the best of a pretty average bunch, you'll want to look at the later part of the first week and into the second. Monday the 21st of September into Tuesday the 23rd sees a slight uptick. The swell bumps up just a touch to around 3ft to 4ft, still from the SW, with that combined energy climbing to 669 and 736 – still moderate, but heading in the right direction. The wind stays lighter, sometimes offshore from the W, so the surface could clean up a little. This is your best bet for a wave, but keep the expectations low. It's still small.

Honestly though, nothing here is a standout. The cycle just keeps pumping out the same story: small swell, mediocre conditions. For a consistent spot like 15th Street, this is a bit of a bummer, but it happens. The water temperature is a story in itself on the 13th of September – it's reading a whopping 73°, which is 6° above normal for this time of year. That's very unusual, so expect some surprisingly warm water for your trouble.

The long-range stuff around the 27th and 28th of September shows a big long-period swell (20-21 seconds) but the height is a tiny 2ft to 2ft. That's the classic case of a lot of energy that never really stands up. It's a tease.

All in all, if you're desperate, keep an eye on the 21st to the 23rd of September. Otherwise, I'd wait and see if things change. This is one of those stretches where the forecasts can flip, so don't give up hope entirely, but be ready for a lot of flat and blown-out afternoons.

Rusty.

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