15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta say, it’s a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, quiet period with very little to get excited about. The first real chance of a wave comes in on Tuesday, July 28th, but honestly, it’s a bit of a tease. The swell is there, but the conditions are just off.

The standout, and really the only window worth paddling for, is Tuesday, July 28th, through Wednesday, July 29th, at 15th Street. This spot is a beach and reef setup that’s exposed to the swell. We’ve got a solid SSW groundswell rolling in, with a long period of 16 to 17 seconds. That kind of period means the waves will have some real grunt and shape, but at a beach break, it can sometimes make them a bit too straight. The swell height is around 4ft to 4ft, so it’s manageable for a confident beginner, but with that long period, the sets will have some push. The water is a scorching 75°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a real treat. The combined energy is strong, hitting 1151 (moderate wave energy) on Tuesday afternoon.

The wind is the problem. It’s a light cross-onshore breeze at 6 mph. While it’s light, it’s not clean. The forecast says "marginal surf forecast" with light cross-onshore wind ripples. It’s not blown out, but it’s not glassy. Wednesday morning looks very similar, with a light cross-onshore wind. The crowds can be an issue here, as they are "often" present, so expect some company.

From Thursday, July 30th, onwards, things go downhill fast. The swell drops off, and the wind turns more onshore. By the weekend, the first of August, the wave heights are down to 2ft to 3ft, with poor conditions. The combined energy drops to weak levels (less than 200). This flat spell looks set to run right through the first week of August.

There is a tiny flicker of life on Friday, August 7th, with a very long-period 19-second SSW swell, but the height is only 2ft. The combined energy is a bit higher at 337 (weak), but those waves are going to be small and inconsistent. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, which is at least a bit cleaner than the onshore stuff we’ve been seeing.

The rest of the second week remains poor. More onshore winds and tiny swell. By Wednesday, August 12th, the combined energy climbs back up to around 536 (moderate wave energy), but the swell is still a weak 2ft to 3ft and the wind is a cross-onshore breeze. It’s still a "marginal" call.

In short, we have a brief, mediocre window on the 28th and 29th of July. If you’re desperate, you can get wet, but don’t expect any magic. The rest of the 16 days is a write-off for proper surfing. The setup looks more interesting for kite-surfing than paddle surfing on the windier days.

Rusty.

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