Ammonias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming for the Ammonias area over the next couple of weeks. First up, I’ll be straight with you: the first week is pretty grim. There’s plenty of ENE wind that keeps the surf lumpy and chopped up.

Starting Thursday, the 9th of July, we’ve got swell running about 7 ft with a short period of 8 seconds from the ENE, but there’s a fresh cross-onshore wind making it a real mess. Water temperature is 79°F, which is about normal for this time of year. Through Thursday afternoon and into Friday the 10th, the swell drops to about 6 ft, period goes to 7 seconds, and the wind stays moderate cross-shore. Saturday the 11th has a bit more energy (combined swell energy 690–721), but still cross-shore and short period. Sunday the 12th sees energy climb (800–907), but it’s cross-on and choppy with rain showers. This same pattern—moderate cross-shore or cross-on wind, short-period swell from 6 ft to 7 ft—keeps repeating through Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th. Tuesday afternoon finally gets a “marginal” tag, but the water’s still messy.

All through this stretch, the period is mostly 7 to 8 seconds, so it’s short-period windswell with no real shape. If you’ve got a kite and the wind is 15–19 mph cross-shore, that might be more your thing, but for a surfboard, it’s pretty rough.

Things shift a bit on Monday the 20th of July. The morning still has that ENE wind and 6 ft short-period swell, but by Monday afternoon, a new, very long-period groundswell from the south at 17 seconds shows up, though it’s only 2 ft. Combined energy sits at 697. The wind drops to a moderate 12 mph cross-shore from the NE. This is where it gets interesting. Tuesday the 21st of July brings that E groundswell up: 3 ft in the morning and 4 ft in the afternoon, with a still-impressive period of 16–17 seconds. Combined energy jumps into the strong range (1192–1241), and the wind stays moderate cross-shore. These are the standout days. That period means real energy and push in the water, and at a reef setup like Ammonias, it could wrap in nicely. Just be aware that long-period swell can break straight at beach breaks, but the reef might help. The wind isn’t glassy, but it’s far better than the rest.

Wednesday the 22nd still has some of that E groundswell at 3 ft with 14–15 second period, but by Thursday the 23rd, it fades. Thursday and Friday the 24th go back to short-period windswell and cross-on winds—not worth your time.

So, to wrap it up: a long stretch of poor conditions from the 9th through the 20th of July, then a short window on Monday afternoon the 20th, Tuesday the 21st, and Wednesday the 22nd, where a long-period groundswell from the east offers the best surf of the whole forecast. Tuesday the 21st is the pick, with 3–4 ft and 16–17 second period, and the reef at Ammonias should give you the best chance at a decent wave. It’s not perfect wind, but it’s head and shoulders above everything else.

Rusty.

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