15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming down the pipeline for 15th Street.

We've got a bit of a slow start on the cards, to be honest. The water is sitting at a toasty 71°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – nice for a paddle without a hood, that's for sure.

The first few days are pretty lackluster. We're looking at a long stretch through until the 25th of August with only tiny, weak swell. Friday the 21st has some waist-high dribble from the SSW, but the combined energy is weak at 255, so it's nothing to get excited about. Saturday and Sunday are even smaller. The wind is offshore, which is the only saving grace, but there's just not enough push to make it worthwhile. It’s going to be a quiet few days for the paddle crew.

Things start to show a bit of life around Tuesday the 25th of August. We see the swell tick up to chest-high from the South (3ft to 4ft) and the wave energy climbs into a solid moderate range (776 to 900). The wind is light and offshore from the West, which is the magic direction for this spot. It’s a long-period groundswell (14-15 seconds), which means nice, lined-up waves with good shape and longer lulls between sets – perfect for a point break or reef setup. This is the standout period, but even then, the scores are modest, so keep your expectations measured.

Wednesday the 26th sees the swell peak at a head-high 5ft from the South with energy in the strong range (1147). However, the wind swings around to a cross-onshore from the SSW, which will chop things up. For a beach and reef setup like this, that wind direction will make it a bit of a bumpy mess. This one looks more like a day for the kite surfers to have a blast than a clean day for a noseride.

The rest of the run into the first week of September looks average at best. There are some pulses of waist to chest-high SSW swell, but the wind is often cross-onshore, making the wave quality marginal. You'll get some semi-clean windows, especially on days with lighter breezes, but nothing that screams "drop everything and go". The crowds at 15th Street can be a factor, so keep that in mind if you're eyeing off one of those cleaner but small windows.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet on offer is the Tuesday the 25th of August. You're looking at clean, chest-high waves with light offshore wind and decent long-period energy. It's not a monster day, but it's the cleanest of the bunch by a long shot. After that, you're sifting through marginal conditions for the rest of the run.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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