15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's talk about the next couple of weeks for 15th Street. I've got the charts up, and honestly, it's a bit of a slow burn. We've got a long stretch of small, wonky surf ahead before things finally start to show some life. It's not a time to be charging, but there might be a window or two worth a paddle if you're keen.

The Pattern

Right out of the gate, we're looking at a tough run. For the first five days, from Monday the 17th through Friday the 21st, it’s basically a write-off. The waves are small, around 2ft to 3ft, with a short-period windswell that just doesn't have any push. To make matters worse, the wind is cross-onshore, making it lumpy and choppy. There's barely any energy in the water – we're talking combined swell energy readings wobbling around 200 to 400, which is weak. You'd be fighting an onshore breeze for scraps. Not worth the wetsuit, to be honest.

There’s a little breather on Sunday the 23rd when the wind drops right out and it goes glassy in the afternoon. The swell is still tiny, maybe 2ft, but it's clean. The period jumps up to 18-19 seconds, which is proper groundswell, but there's just not enough size to get excited about. It's a moment of calm in a storm of mediocrity. The week that follows, from the 24th to the 28th, is more of the same – small, weak, and mostly onshore. The energy stays low, mostly in the 200s and 300s, with a few bumps. It's a long, quiet stretch.

The Glimmer of Hope

Now, for the good stuff. Things finally start to shift as we move into the final days of August. The swell starts to build for the weekend, and while it won't be epic, it'll be the best we've seen. On the 29th, the combined energy jumps up to 761, which is moderate, and the swell is a touch bigger at 3ft. The period is hanging in the 16-17 second range, which is solid. The wind is still cross-onshore, so we won't get perfection, but there's finally some actual swell to work with.

The standout, though, looks like Monday the 31st. The morning shows a 4ft SSW groundswell with a 15-second period. It's cross-onshore, but that's fine. Still, the energy reading is a strong 660, which is the most consistent push we will have had. It should be the most powerful surf of the period, and the most fun.

The Breaks

We're focusing on 15th Street here. It's a beach and reef setup, and it can handle some swell. For this outlook, the only real standouts are those two days at the end of the month and into September. The Monday the 31st looks like the pick of the bunch. With a 4ft SSW swell and clean enough conditions, it’s a good call for a wade out. As a day to highlight, 15th Street should have some fun, rideable waves.

Also, the first of September shows some potential, with a 4ft SSW swell, but it's a bit more onshore and the period drops to 14 seconds. It's still better than what we've had, but Monday has the edge.

I know I mentioned the water is much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a nice bonus for those early paddles.

So, there you have it. A slow first half, a cleaner but tiny pulse on the 23rd, and then a more promising weekend on the 29th and 30th, with Monday the 31st being the one to circle on the calendar. Keep your expectations in check, but there's a little something to get you out of the house.

Rusty, out.

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