Balangan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

The forecast is really kicking off with a solid run of surf at Balangan. This is a reef break that's consistently picking up a good SW swell direction, and it's a consistent spot, so you can bank on waves being here. The water is sitting at 81°F with a minor anomaly of 0.5°F, so pretty much spot on for the time of year.

We start this Saturday morning, the 11th of July, with some clouds and a clean 5ft swell from the SW. The period is a very long 14 seconds, which is groundswell, giving the waves heaps of energy and shape, especially on a reef like this. The wind is offshore from the ESE at 12 mph, making for glassy conditions. The combined energy is a strong 1367 (moderate to strong wave energy). This is excellent for experienced surfers, but it's a bit over 5ft, so beginners might find it a handful. The morning is the standout session of the whole weekend. Saturday afternoon drops slightly to 5ft, but the wind and swell direction remain good, so it's still a very good session.

Sunday the 12th has smaller surf, with 3ft in the morning and 3ft in the afternoon, both from the SW with a 13-second period. The wind is still offshore, but the energy is lower, around 613 and 441 respectively. Good, clean waves for a longboard or a funboard, but nothing to get too excited about.

Monday the 13th sees a weird one. The morning swell is tiny at 2ft, but the period jumps to a very long 23 seconds, creating a lot of energy (667). The afternoon is better with 3ft and 21 seconds and a much higher energy of 1073. The wind is offshore both sessions. This is a classic case of a very long-period groundswell – the waves will be super clean and lined up on the reef, but the sets will be few and far between. The afternoon is the better bet.

The real standout of the whole forecast arrives on Tuesday the 14th. The morning has 6ft from the SSW with a 17-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 2430. The afternoon is even better, with 7ft from the SSW and an 18-second period, energy hitting 2730. The wind is a clean offshore breeze all day. This is excellent surf, but it's over 8ft and very powerful, so this is for experts only. This is the day to clear your schedule.

Wednesday the 15th is still pumping, with 7ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon, both from the SSW with a solid 16-second period. The wind holds offshore. The energy is still strong (2137 and 1716). This is a continuation of the pulse, but the forecast notes marginal tide conditions, so you'll need to pick your sessions.

Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th see the swell drop back to a cleaner 5ft to 5ft range, but the wind picks up to 19 mph, with some rain showers about. The energy is still moderate (around 1117 to 1180), but the wind is fresh. It's still surfable, but it's not the quality of the previous days.

The second week starts to taper off. Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th hold 5ft to 5ft waves with offshore winds, but the energy and quality are more marginal. The real lift comes again on Sunday the 19th afternoon, with a 5ft SSW swell, a 19-second period, and a big energy jump to 2399. That's a promising late-afternoon session.

Monday the 20th looks like the biggest day of the second week, with 8ft from the SSW and a 17-second period, and energy over 3400. The wind is fresh at 19 mph, but it's offshore. This is another one for experts only, with a lot of power. The rest of the week from Tuesday the 21st to Wednesday the 22nd still has fun 6ft to 7ft waves, but the energy drops off.

The forecast starts to get a bit patchy from Thursday the 23rd, with the wind going cross-offshore and the swell dropping to under 3ft. However, Friday the 24th morning brings a nice surprise: 4ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, clean offshore wind, and an energy of 1359. That's a good morning session for the end of the week. The final weekend of the 25th and 26th July has some risk of thunderstorms, but the swell hangs around the 5ft to 6ft mark with offshore winds. It's not the cleanest, but there will be waves.

The best on offer is absolutely Tuesday the 14th of July, with the afternoon session being the pick of the bunch – big, powerful, clean groundswell. The second best is the morning of Saturday the 11th, for a cleaner, slightly smaller version of the same thing. The 20th of July is also a barnstormer for experts, but it's a bit further out, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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