Ammonias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here, and I've gotta be straight with you – the outlook for Ammonias over the next couple of weeks is a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a few windows where it could get fun. It's a reef setup, so expect a bit of a crowd, and it's fairly consistent.

Right now, the water is sitting at 80°, which is pretty much normal for the time of year, so no need to worry about a wetsuit.

We kick things off on Tuesday, the 28th of July. The morning has some clouds, wind is coming from the NNE at 12 mph, so it's a cross-off breeze. Swell is 6 ft from the East with a 13-second period, which is a nice long groundswell, and the combined energy is a solid 1461. The afternoon sees the swell push to 7 ft, period staying at 13 seconds, and energy hitting 1556, but the wind picks up to 16 mph. Still, it's a cross-off, so the surf should be clean. This is for experienced surfers – 6 ft to 7 ft is a decent size, and with that long period, the reef is going to be working well, but it’s a bit big for beginners.

Wednesday, the 29th of July, is looking like the standout. Morning is clear, with a gentle NNE breeze at 9 mph, cross-off. Swell is 7 ft from the ENE, period 11 seconds, and the energy is 1135. It's a touch smaller period than Tuesday, but still a solid groundswell. The afternoon gets even better – wind drops to 6 mph, light breeze, still cross-off. Swell inches up to 7 ft from the ENE, period 10 seconds, energy 1099. This is the best on offer: clean conditions, solid chest-to-head high waves, and the reef will be handling it well. Excellent for experienced surfers.

Thursday, the 30th of July, things change. Morning wind swings SE at 9 mph, onshore, and the swell drops to 5 ft with a short 8-second period, energy down to 725. The afternoon gets worse: wind from the East at 12 mph, cross-onshore, with 5 ft waves and the same short period. It's a write-off.

From Friday, the 31st of July, through to the end of the first week and into the second week, it's a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions. The wind is either cross-onshore or cross-shore from the ENE or NE, gusting between 12 and 22 mph, with swell sizes bouncing between 5 ft and 8 ft, but periods are mostly short, between 6 and 8 seconds, and the energy is moderate. The combination of onshore wind and short-period swell is going to make it choppy and messy. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.

There's a gap of about a week of questionable surf, but then we get a flicker of hope on Sunday, the 9th of August. The swell direction swings to the SSW, with a 3 ft swell and a very long 18-second period, energy 925. The wind is still cross-onshore from the ENE at 16 mph, though, so it's choppy. The long period means the reef will be holding the swell, but the wind is a killer. Monday, the 10th of August, is similar: 4 ft from the SSW, 16-second period, energy 1029, but wind is still cross-onshore from the East at 9 mph. The sets will be clean between the chop, but it's not a must-surf.

The best window is definitely Wednesday, the 29th of July. The light, cross-off winds and solid 7 ft ENE swell are going to make for a clean, powerful session on the reef. Get out there while it's good.

Rusty.

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