Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ll be straight with ya – we’re in a flat spell. Looking at Back Strands, this reef can pick up a decent W swell, but the next few weeks are looking pretty grim for any real surfing. The forecast shows very weak, small waves with poor conditions for the vast majority of the period.

Right now, starting off on Sunday the 5th of July, we’ve got a weak 4ft W swell coming in, but it’s a short-period swell at 9 seconds and the wind is a messy cross-shore from the SW at 12 mph. The combined swell energy is only 215 – that’s weak energy – and the water is notably warmer than average at 61°F, about 4°F above the norm. It’s just a choppy mess with poor surf conditions all day.

Monday the 6th and Tuesday the 7th are more of the same: 4ft to 4ft W swell with cross and cross-onshore winds, keeping the surface ugly. The wave energy drops into the 160s and 180s. Not worth paddling out.

Wednesday the 8th into Thursday the 9th sees the swell drop to a tiny 3ft. But here’s a glimmer – on Thursday morning the 9th of July, we get a window of glassy conditions with a light S wind at 3 mph. The surf is still ordinary, but the clean surface makes it ridable for a grovel on a log or a fun board. The period is still a short 9 seconds, and energy is weak at 127.

After that, it’s a long stretch of nothing. From Friday the 10th right through to Monday the 20th of July, the swell legs are mostly under 2ft, with a few days barely reaching 3ft. The winds are predominantly onshore or cross-onshore from the NNW or NW, often at 12-16 mph, which kills any chance of a decent wave. The combined swell energy barely breaks triple digits, often sitting below 100. It’s a classic winter flat spell.

There is a tiny, tiny hope on Tuesday the 14th morning – clean, glassy conditions with 2ft W swell at 10 seconds, but at 94 energy, it’s barely a ripple. Not a standout by any stretch.

The only possible highlight, if you can call it one, is the Thursday morning the 9th of July. For Back Strands, with a 3ft W swell and glassy winds, you might get a few clean little lines. But don’t expect any power – it’ll be a small-wave session.

Other than that, this forecast is a write-off. A full two-week gap with nothing worth chasing. The setup is so small and windy it’d be more interesting for kite surfing than paddling. Forecasts can change, but as it stands, you’re better off waxing the longboard for a flat-water paddle.

Rusty.

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