15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for our stretch of coast.

The next couple of weeks are looking pretty quiet, to be honest. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak swell with the wind mostly on it or cross-onshore, so the surf quality is going to be a struggle. It’s a proper waiting game. The first real shot at something rideable doesn’t show up until the second weekend.

So, what’s on offer? The only spot worth talking about is 15th Street. It’s a beach and reef set-up, consistent, and it’s got an E offshore wind, so it can clean up nicely when the conditions align. The problem is, for the first week, the swell is tiny—around 2ft to 3ft—and it’s coming from the SSW, which is a bit off the optimum WSW direction. The period is long, between 15 and 20 seconds, which is proper groundswell, but the energy is low. You’re looking at combined energy readings mostly in the 300s to 400s (weak to moderate), so there’s just not enough push. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, so the surface is messy. Don’t expect much.

Things start to perk up a bit around Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th of August. The swell lifts to 3ft to 4ft, and the wind goes light and variable, with a few windows of light offshore or light cross-onshore. The energy creeps up into the 500s to 700s (moderate). The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing weird. For 15th Street, that’s the best window in the first ten days. It’s still not pumping, but it’s the pick of a poor bunch. Expect crowds—it’s often busy here.

The real standout, and the one to circle on the calendar, is Friday the 21st of August. The swell holds at 3ft from the SSW, with a period of 15-16 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 608 and 603 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it’ll be a little bumpy but surfable. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got. After that, it drops back off into the weekend.

Honestly, the whole forecast is a bit of a dud. There’s nothing over 4ft, and the wind is rarely favouring us. For a consistent spot like 15th Street, that’s a sign of a slow spell. It’s the kind of set-up that might look more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddler on those days with a bit of wind and weak swell. The second week is even more forgettable, with tiny waves and poor conditions.

Keep an eye on the forecast, but don’t get your hopes up. This is a rest week.

Rusty.

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