15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

We’re looking at 15th Street, and I gotta be straight with you – things are pretty flat and rough for the next week or so. The water is sitting at 73°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year (a full 5° above average), so that’s a bit of a strange one.

Right now and into the next week, the swell is small, mostly around 2 ft to 4 ft, coming in from the SSW. The period is long, between 13 and 16 seconds, which means it’s pure groundswell, but with such little height it’s barely breaking. The combined energy is moderate, ranging from about 227 to 721 (like 679 on Saturday morning), but the wind is blowing onshore pretty consistently from the west or WNW. That onshore wind is making a mess of it, and the surf is poor or marginal at best. You’d be wasting your time paddling out.

We’ve got a real gap here. There’s nothing worth recommending from now all the way through to Monday the 25th of August.

Now, come Tuesday the 25th of August, things start to change. The swell picks up to 6 ft on Tuesday morning from the SSE, with that long 16-second period. The combined energy jumps right up to 2009, which is strong energy. The wind is super light from the SW, which is cross-on – not perfect, but light enough to keep it clean. The waves are still called “marginal” due to tide or shape, but it’s the first real sign of life.

Wednesday the 26th of August sees the swell peak. Morning has 7 ft of S swell, with a period of 14 seconds, and the wind is offshore from the WSW at only 6 mph. That’s clean. The energy is strong at 1738. The surf will be solid. However, 7 ft is getting into expert-only territory. This break can handle it being a beach and reef setup, but it’ll be a handful for anyone who’s not experienced. The afternoon holds the same size but with a shorter period (13s) and cloudy skies, but still offshore wind.

Thursday the 27th of August stays big, with 7 ft in the morning from the SSW (13s period) and 5 ft in the afternoon. Both have onshore WNW winds at 9 mph, which will chop things up a bit, but the energy remains strong (1387 and 1329). It’s still only for experts.

Friday the 28th through Sunday the 30th of August drops back down to 3 ft to 5 ft with that same SSW direction. The winds are lighter and more cross-on, but the energy drops back to moderate (around 700 to 1000). The surf is just okay – marginal, but at least the crowds at 15th Street are often, so you might have company if you’re keen.

The standout here is clearly Wednesday the 26th of August. That morning window with 7 ft of S swell, 14-second period, and offshore WSW wind is the best on offer. It’s a serious, powerful wave for experts only. If you’re good, be there. If not, give it a wide berth.

Stay safe out there.

- Rusty

Read more