Ammonias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty, and here’s the outlook for Ammonias. I’ll lay it out plain – there’s nothing in the 16-day window that’s gonna get you stoked. The whole stretch is a fight, with mostly cross-shore or cross-onshore winds and a lot of chop. The first few days are a total write-off with poor surf conditions. The swell does try to build later, but it’s always fighting the wind. The best you’ll get is a marginal, messy wave, and even that’s a hard sell.

We’re talking about a reef break, and it’s fairly consistent, but it’s exposed to the swell. The optimum swell direction is from the SSE, but we’re not seeing that at all. The water temperature is about average for this time of year.

The first real chance is Tuesday, 21 July. The morning brings a 3-foot swell from the south with a long 15-second period, which is a groundswell. The combined energy is moderate (593). That period is long enough to make paddling out easier, but at a reef, it could work. The problem is the wind is still cross-shore from the ENE at 12 mph, so it’s a bit messy. It’s a marginal call.

The next little window is Wednesday, 22 July through to Thursday, 23 July. The swell drops to 2 feet from the SSW, but with a very long period of 20-24 seconds. The energy is moderate to strong (865 to 1117). That period is so long, it’s best for a reef or point break, but the size is tiny. Winds are still cross-shore from the ENE at 16 mph, and the water is lumpy. It’s marginal at best.

Friday, 24 July is the only day a week in that has a bit of a pulse. The afternoon shows a 7-foot swell from the ENE, but it’s a short-period 7-second windswell. The energy is strong (1183), but the wind is cross-shore from the NE at 16 mph, creating a lumpy cross-chop. That 7-foot is too big for beginners, and with the short period and messy wind, it’s not a classic. This is the best on offer, but it’s a “maybe” for the die-hards.

From Saturday, 26 July onwards, things settle into a long run of 3 to 4-foot swells from the SSW and then the E. The periods are long (14-16 seconds), so the energy is moderate to strong (1015-1499). The wind stays stubbornly cross-shore from the ENE or NE at 12-16 mph, so the surf is always a bit bumpy. The best of the second week is Monday, 27 July morning, with a 4-foot swell from the east at 16 seconds, but it’s still cross-shore.

The last few days of the month and into August are a repeat of the same – 4 to 5-foot swells, cross-shore winds, and marginal conditions. The Friday, 31 July afternoon has a 5-foot swell from the ENE, but with a short 7-second period, it’s just a messy windswell. The combined energy is moderate (565), but it’s not worth the drive.

Honestly, there’s no standout session here. The whole period is a bit of a drought. The best call is to look at the Friday, 24 July afternoon for the biggest push of swell, but it’s a short-period, wind-affected mess. If you’re a kitesurfer, that cross-shore wind and chop might look fun, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a rough ride. Otherwise, keep an eye on the forecast, because it tends not to stay this poor for long.

Rusty.

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