Ballina North Wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe for the Ballina area.

Straight up, we’ve got a solid mix of conditions over the next 16 days, but there are some real standouts and some periods you’ll want to sit out. The first real surf to talk about kicks off on Tuesday the 21st of July, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

Tuesday 21st July sees a chunky 7 ft easterly swell rolling in at 10 seconds, but with a strong cross-shore wind, it’s going to be a bit lumpy. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate at 878. This one is better left for the experienced crew.

Wednesday 22nd July is where it gets interesting. The morning session is a gem. The swell drops to a more manageable 5 ft from the east, but the magic is the offshore westerly wind at 10 km/h. This is going to be clean. The combined energy is still a solid 423. This is the pick of the first week for a surfer who wants quality over size. The wind is light, the waves are clean, and Ballina North Wall will be offering up some proper lines.

The rest of the week into the weekend gets a bit messy with strong southerly winds and building swell. On Thursday 24th July, the swell jumps to 7 ft from the SSE with a period of 8 seconds, but the wind is a cross-shore. The energy is ramping up (641), but it’s going to be a battle. This is more of a wind-swell affair, and honestly, for the average punter, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Saturday 26th July morning is another small window of goodness. The swell drops to 4 ft from the SSE, but the period is a very long 14 seconds, which is proper groundswell. The wind is a light 5 km/h from the NW, making it clean. The energy is moderate at 644. This is a session for the point break or reef crew, as that long period will be a bit straight at the beach.

Now, we hit a bit of a lull. From Monday 27th July through to Wednesday 29th July, the swell drops right off to nothing, with wave heights under 1 ft. It’s a flat spell, so you’re better off doing something else.

Thursday 30th July afternoon sees a massive spike in energy, with a 8 ft SSE swell at 12 seconds. The combined energy jumps to a huge 1891. This is serious, powerful swell. The wind is light, but this size is only for the experts. It’s too big for beginners.

The real standout window for the big-wave hunters comes in the second week. Sunday 2nd August through to Monday 4th August is proper. On the 2nd, we’ve got 8 ft to 10 ft SSE swell, with a period of 10 seconds. The energy is off the charts, hitting 2477 on the 3rd. The wind is offshore or cross-off in the mornings, making it clean. This is a serious, powerful run of swell. If you’re an advanced surfer with a big-wave board, this is the time to be out. For everyone else, stay on the beach.

The energy drops off after that, with the swell on the 5th of August being a messy 7 ft with strong onshore winds. Not one to get excited about.

So, to wrap it up: the best all-rounder for the average surfer is Wednesday 22nd July morning. For the big-wave crew, Sunday 2nd to Monday 4th August is the main event. Be patient, pick your windows, and stay safe.

Rusty.

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