Balls Bowls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this outlook for Balls Bowls (a reef setup) is a rough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with barely a ripple for the first week and a half, and only one very specific moment that might get the heart pumping, but it’s a long way off and comes with big caveats.

The whole 16-day window starts off with a flat start. From Monday the 13th through to Friday the 24th of July, the surf is basically non-existent – tiny dribbles under 1 feet, with most of it in the 0.6 to 1.0 feet range. Combined swell energy figures are tiny, mostly between 7 and 45, so there’s no power in the water. Winds are messy, often cross or cross-onshore, which just chops up what little there is. There’s a couple of nice clean windows on the 15th, 16th and 18th with gentle offshore winds, but with nothing to surf, it’s just a nice day to sit on the beach.

Around the 21st of July, the wind turns cross-onshore and the swell starts to pick up a bit – heights get to 3 to 3 feet, but it’s short-period windswell (5 seconds). Not worth paddling for. That trend continues into the 23rd and 24th, where we see a bit more energy with combined swell energy hitting 258 on Thursday the 23rd, but it’s still messy.

Now, here’s the one standout – and it’s a big, wild card. On Sunday the 26th of July, early morning, the swell jumps. We’re talking 8 feet of SE swell at a solid 11-second period, with a massive combined energy reading of 1573. That’s serious, powerful groundswell. The wind is literally nearly calm from the north. For a moment, it could look incredible. But – this is a reef break, and 8 feet is expert territory. That long-period groundswell coming from the SE is not optimum for this spot, which prefers NE swell. It might break a bit straight and closed out, especially on the reef. Also, only the Sunday morning window shows this; by afternoon it’s dropped back to 0.6 feet and glassy – a total miss. For the brave, skilled locals, it’s worth a look, but it’s a gamble. Any beginners or intermediates should stay well clear.

After that, it’s back to flat on the 27th and 28th.

Water temp is around 84°, feeling pretty average for this time of year (anomaly of -0.4°). No crowds to worry about because there’s nothing to ride.

So, honestly – for most of this period, you’re better off finding another hobby. The only real shot is that Sunday the 26th dawn patrol, and even then, it’s a one-hit wonder. Keep an eye on the charts, because things can change, but right now, it’s a tough call. If you’re into kiting, maybe the 23rd and 24th with 3 feet and cross-onshore wind might look more interesting than paddle surfing.

Rusty.

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