Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down.

We got a slow start, real quiet, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. First week’s pretty rough – little swell, bad wind angles – but you hang in, the second week starts showing some muscle.

Starting with Back Strands – the only spot we got here, a reef break that’s fairly open to the west. Water’s sitting at 62°, which is much warmer than normal for July – about 5° above average, so you’re leaving the thick rubber at home.

Friday morning, July 3rd – we see a little 3-foot west swell, 10-second period. Combined energy is weak at 217. Winds are light cross-off from the south at 9 mph, keeping things clean. Surfable, but nothing to write home about. The afternoon turns windy and onshore, so it gets messy.

Saturday and Sunday, July 4th and 5th, the swell picks up to 5-6 feet, period drops to 9 seconds, but winds crank up to 15-22 mph cross-on or onshore – lumpy, choppy, poor. Not the day for it.

Monday through Thursday, July 6th to 9th, stay small and junky – waves from 2 to 4 feet, mostly west, short 8-9 second periods. Winds are cross-on or occasionally glassy. Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning are the cleanest, with glassy or offshore conditions, but the swell is tiny – just 2-3 feet. Combined energy is real weak, 74 to 122. Almost flat, really.

Then we hit a big lull from late Thursday, July 9th, through most of the following week – flat spells, poor wind, not much to get excited about. You’re better off checking the tide pools.

Here’s the one real highlight:

Saturday morning, July 18th – This one’s got some juice. A solid 7-foot groundswell from west-northwest, with a 9-second period. The combined energy jumps to a strong 692. Winds are light cross-off from the south at 9 mph, so it’ll be clean. That size – over 6 feet – is expert territory, not for beginners. The direction is a little off the preferred west, but close enough to work on a reef. That morning session is the one to target. The afternoon switches onshore, so don’t sleep in.

Also, Tuesday morning, July 14th, has a decent little window: 4-foot west swell, 9-second period, glassy with light south wind. Combined energy is weak at 209, but it’ll be smooth. Not a standout, but rideable.

The first 12-13 days are mostly a bust. The only quality window is that Saturday morning, July 18th. It’s a ways out, so call it promising but not locked in.

- Rusty

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