Ammonias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Ammonias over the next couple of weeks.

First up, this is a reef break, so we’re already dealing with a setup that can turn an average swell into something with a bit of shape. Right now, things are a bit of a mixed bag. The first few days of the forecast period are a bit of a write-off – Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th of July have some swell, but the wind is a problem. Tuesday has a cross-shore breeze that’s making things messy, and the score is low. It’s not worth paddling out for.

Then, on Wednesday the 29th, we get a real window. The morning is clean with a cross-offshore breeze from the north at 9 mph, and the swell is 7ft from the ENE with a period of 11 seconds. That’s a decent groundswell, and the energy is solid at 1406 (moderate to strong). The afternoon is even better – glassy conditions with a light southwesterly at 3 mph, the same 7ft swell, but the period drops to 10 seconds. This is the standout for the whole outlook. The water is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual. The waves will be clean, well-shaped, and with that 7ft height, it’s for intermediate to experienced surfers only. Crowds are often here, so expect some company.

After that, it’s a long and painful run. From Thursday the 30th of July right through to the middle of the second week, the wind is almost entirely onshore or cross-shore, and the conditions are poor. The swell sticks around between 5ft and 8ft, but the quality is just not there. The energy drops off significantly, often below 1000. There’s a stretch from Thursday the 30th through to Wednesday the 5th of August where the surf is just plain messy or marginal. You’ll be fighting a chop, and the wind is a constant problem. There’s a brief flicker on Tuesday the 4th of August, with a 6ft swell and a 12-second period, but the wind is cross-shore and the conditions are only marginal. Not worth the drive.

The second week continues the poor run. From Thursday the 6th of August, the swell gets smaller and the period often drops to 6-8 seconds, which is short-period windswell. The energy is weak, often in the 300-800 range. The wind stays onshore or cross-shore. The conditions are consistently poor. There’s a small spike in swell on Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th, with 8ft and 7ft waves, but the wind is fresh and onshore, making it a lumpy mess. This is more appealing for kite surfers than paddle surfers.

The very end of the outlook, the 10th to the 12th of August, sees a shift in swell direction to a long-period S/SW groundswell, but the swell height is tiny (3ft to 4ft) and the wind is still onshore. The energy is moderate (around 800-1089), but with a 16-second period and a cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be a messy, weak wave that breaks too straight for a beach break setup. This reef might handle it, but the size is too small to get excited about.

Honestly, the only real day to get excited about is Wednesday the 29th of July. The glassy afternoon session is the best on offer. After that, it’s a long wait for any kind of change. For a reef break, this spot can be picky. The forecast can change, but as it stands, it’s one good day and then a whole lot of nothing.

Rusty.

Read more