Alnes Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into what’s coming up.

Alright, the outlook for the next couple of weeks is a real mixed bag, and I’ll be honest, it’s not looking great for a proper surf. The best of it is a very brief window on Thursday afternoon, but after that, we’re looking at a long stretch of messy, windy, or just plain flat conditions. For a spot that’s fairly exposed to the swell, it’s a frustrating run.

We’re kicking off on Thursday, July 30th, with the only real standout of the entire forecast. Alnes Lighthouse is a classic point break, and it’s giving us a little taste of what could be. That afternoon, it’s glassy with a light northerly breeze, and we’ve got a 4ft west swell wrapping in at 8 seconds. The wave energy is moderate (187), and the water’s sitting at 57°, which is about average for the time of year. This is the session to go for. It’s clean, it’s rideable, but don’t expect perfection – the conditions are just “surfable.” It’s your best chance, but it’s not a classic.

Now, from Friday morning, July 31st, things go downhill fast. The wind swings onshore and cranks up to 22 mph, making a mess of the 5ft to 6ft swell. The combined energy jumps up (295 to 451), but it’s all for nothing with that wind. The forecast points to poor surf conditions all the way through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with heavy rain and strong to near-gale winds. The swell sticks around, hitting 8ft by Sunday afternoon (850 energy), but it’s a complete write-off for a paddle – honestly, this is more of a kite-surfing setup than anything else.

We go straight into the next week with a similar story. Monday, August 3rd, has a solid 7ft to 8ft swell from the WNW with a longer 9-second period, pushing the energy up to 959, but the wind is still a strong cross-offshore. It’s marginal at best, and only for the experienced crew. The rest of the week from Tuesday through to Sunday, August 9th, is a mix of cross-shore winds and dropping swell. The energy levels are moderate (143 to 364), but the wave quality is poor, with a constant cross-chop ruining the lines. There’s a brief flicker on Sunday afternoon, August 9th, with a 4ft WNW swell and a clean offshore breeze, but the energy is weak (248) and it’s just “very ordinary.”

The second week, from August 10th onward, is a real struggle. The swell is inconsistent, the wind is constantly cross-shore, and the energy levels are all over the place. There’s a 7ft swell on Tuesday morning, August 11th, with a 9-second period and moderate energy (759), but it’s marginal. By Wednesday, August 12th, the wind is howling at 25 to 34 mph, making it impossible. The last few days of the forecast, August 13th and 14th, are just flat or messy, with weak swells and poor conditions.

Bottom line: the only real window is Thursday afternoon, July 30th. Get in the water then, because after that, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

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