Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is a tricky read for Back Strands. It’s a reef setup, and it’s fairly consistent, but the numbers don’t lie – we’ve got a long lean spell ahead.

The opening outlook is pretty grim. We’ve got a small window of potential on Thursday the 9th of July, but it’s not a standout. The water is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a small comfort if you’re getting in.

Looking at the pattern, the first real hope is a very brief window on Thursday afternoon the 9th. The swell is a mere 3 ft from the west, with a period of 9 seconds, giving a combined energy of 126 (moderate). The wind goes glassy, which is a rare treat, so it’ll be clean. But the waves are just surfable, nothing special. It’s really just a session for getting wet, not for scoring.

Friday the 10th through to the 19th is a brutal stretch. The swell drops off a cliff, mostly under 2 ft, with combined energy values falling into the teens and single digits. The wind is often onshore or cross-shore, creating poor conditions. There’s a lot of "poor surf conditions" in the data, and honestly, it’s a write-off. For a stretch of about 10 days, there’s nothing to recommend.

The only flicker of something different comes on Monday the 20th of July. The morning shows a 2 ft swell from the northwest, with a short period of 7 seconds, and a combined energy of 80 (weak). The wind is offshore from the southeast, which will clean it up. It’s still surfable but very ordinary, and the energy is weak. It’s not a standout by any means.

After that, it’s back to small, onshore, and poor conditions through to the end of the forecast.

So, what’s the best on offer? Honestly, the only half-decent moment is Thursday afternoon the 9th. The glassy wind and 3 ft swell from the west make it the cleanest window. But it’s small, and it’s not going to be a classic. The later window on the 20th has offshore wind, but the swell is tiny and short-period.

This is one of those outlooks where you don’t paddle out expecting much. If you’re desperate, the Thursday afternoon glass-off is your best bet, but keep your expectations low. The break is a reef, so with the long period (9 seconds) on the 9th, it might hold a little better shape, but it’s still a small wave.

Rusty.

Read more