Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a hard look at what’s on offer at Back Strands. I gotta be straight with you – this stretch of reef is looking like a tough watch for the next couple of weeks. The overall pattern is a long stretch of small, messy, and wind-affected surf, with a brief window of something more interesting way out in the back half of the forecast.

We’re starting off with a thumping 8ft swell from the WNW on Sunday morning, July 26th, but don’t get your hopes up. That’s a 22 mph onshore wind ruining it, and the wave comment says it all: “poor surf conditions.” The combined energy is moderate at 963, but it’s just a washing machine. That afternoon and into Monday, the swell drops and the wind, while easing a touch, stays cross-shore or onshore, with rain and a cross-chop making things ugly. Monday afternoon sees the swell down to 4ft, still from the WNW, but it’s “marginal” at best.

From Tuesday, July 28th, right through to the start of August, we’re in a real dry spell. It’s a grind of tiny, weak waves with short periods under 8 seconds, and the wind is mostly cross or onshore. The combined energy drops into the two-digit range, basically a paddling pool. The water temperature is 62° with a 3° anomaly, so it’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a small mercy. There’s a few days of glassy, offshore light winds on the 2nd and 3rd of August, but with only 2ft waves from the NW, it’s barely a ripple. The break is “fairly consistent” but it’s just not breaking with any power.

We finally get a pulse on the 7th of August, Friday morning. It’s a 6ft swell from the W with a long 11-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 694 (moderate). The wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-offshore, which is clean. The score is a 1, which is just “marginal,” and the swell is heading towards 6ft in the afternoon with onshore wind again. Still, that Friday morning window is the only real standout in the whole 16 days – it’s promising, but it’s a long way off, so don’t bank on it. For a break that’s “fairly consistent,” this blank run is a bummer, but it happens. Honestly, with the wind and chop on the bigger days, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

That’s it from me. Keep your eyes on that Friday morning, August 7th, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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