Alexandra Headland Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here with a look at what’s coming up for Alexandra Headland. I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are a mixed bag, and the good windows are few and far between. We’ve got a solid run of energy early on, but it comes with a lot of wind and rain, making it a battle. The later part of the period looks pretty flat, so you’ll want to pick your moments carefully.

The first real chance to get wet kicks off on Saturday the 18th. There’s a solid 7ft to 8ft SE swell pushing in, with a period of 9-10 seconds, giving us moderate wave energy (739-1320). The wind is a cross-off from the S at 18-19 mph, which will keep it clean, but it’s a fresh breeze, so it’s not going to be perfect. The waves are there, but conditions are marginal. This is a beginner-friendly break, but with the swell size edging over 8ft, it’s starting to get a bit punchy for the less experienced.

Sunday the 19th sees a big jump in size. We’re looking at an 12ft ESE swell, with strong to very strong wave energy (2535-2339). That’s expert territory, big and powerful. The problem is, the wind is howling from the SSE at 25 mph with rain. It’s cross-off, so the face might be okay, but paddling out will be a mission. This is more of a spectacle than a relaxing session.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st are pretty similar: big 10ft to 8ft swells, but the wind switches to a straight cross-shore at 12-18 mph. That’s going to chop it up and make it lumpy. The energy is still high (1812-1029), but the quality is poor. For a beach and point setup like Alex, this is looking more interesting for the kiteboarders than us paddle surfers. The swell is over 8ft, so it’s experts only anyway.

The best window of the whole outlook, and the only real standout, is Wednesday the 22nd. The swell drops to a more manageable 5ft to 5ft from the E, with a 9-second period and moderate wave energy (390-337). The wind goes glassy in the afternoon, with a slight air from the S at 3 mph. For a few hours, it’s going to be clean, smooth, and inviting. The morning is also clean with a gentle cross-off breeze. This is the day to have a crack. The crowds are listed as ‘often’ here, so expect some company, but it’ll be worth it.

After that, it’s a slow, steady decline. Thursday the 24th through to the end of the month and into August, the swell drops and the wind becomes inconsistent. We get a few small, clean windows with glassy conditions, like on Sunday the 26th (3ft swell) and Monday the 27th (2ft swell), but the energy is weak (84-36). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The rest of the time, it’s a mix of tiny swell and onshore winds, making for poor conditions.

From Monday the 28th all the way through Thursday the 31st, there’s basically nothing. Swell heights are below 1ft, and the energy is almost non-existent (13-5). It’s a real flat spell.

The first signs of life return on Saturday the 1st of August, with a 2ft SE swell and a very long-period of 14 seconds. This is a groundswell, and at a point break like Alex, that long period can actually be a good thing, giving you some nice lines. The energy is moderate (123) and the wind is a light cross-off, so it’s clean. But the size is tiny, so it’s a longboard or a foamie day at best.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual to report there.

So, to sum it up: the best surf is on Wednesday 22nd July. Get out there for the glassy afternoon session. The early swell is big and windy, and the second week is a flat, quiet period. That’s how it goes sometimes.

Rusty.

Read more