Banana Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into the outlook for Banana Point. It’s a point break, exposed to the NW swell, and it’s pretty consistent so there’s usually something to work with. But don’t get too excited just yet—the first half of the run is pretty ordinary.

The overall pattern is a lot of small, weak NW swell with a period of 8 seconds, which is just short-period wind swell, so not much push or shape. The energy is low to moderate at best, with the combined energy reading around 101 early on. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

Friday the 24th morning, we’ve got some clouds, a light 6 mph SSE breeze, which is cross-offshore, and the swell is 3 ft from the NW. The waves are clean but very ordinary—just not enough grunt. The combined energy is only 101 (weak). That afternoon, the wind swings onshore from the WNW at 6 mph, and the surf gets poor. Not worth paddling out.

Saturday the 25th morning is better—clear skies, a slight 3 mph SSE cross-off, and the swell bumps up to 4 ft from the NW. Energy climbs to 176 (moderate). Still not a standout, but it’s clean. Then Saturday afternoon, we get a glassy window—wind drops to 3 mph from the SW, glassy conditions, and 4 ft NW swell with energy at 201 (moderate). That’s the best of the early run, with clean, workable waves. It’s not huge, but for a point break, that’s a fun little session.

Sunday the 26th morning is clean again, 3 ft NW with cross-off wind, but the energy drops to 138 (moderate). Afternoon it goes onshore again. From Monday the 27th through to Thursday the 31st it’s a real drag—waves drop to 2 ft to 3 ft, energy falls into the 50s or 60s, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore. Not worth a second look.

Then on Saturday the 1st of August morning, we get a surprise: glassy conditions, 3 ft swell from the NW with an 8-second period, and energy of 98 (weak). That’s a clean, tiny morning, but the afternoon onshore blast kills it. Sunday the 2nd of August is a write-off with strong breeze and messy chop.

The real standout is buried in the second week—Monday the 4th of August morning. The swell is only 2 ft, but the period jumps to 11 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. Combined energy is 124 (moderate), and the wind is a light 6 mph SSE cross-off, keeping it clean. For a point break, that longer period will link up nicely. The afternoon goes onshore again, but that morning window is the pick of the forecast. It’s promising but still a fair way out, so don’t plan your life around it.

The rest of the run is small, onshore, or just not worth the drive. Crowds are possible at Banana Point, but with this kind of surf, it’ll be quiet.

Rusty.

Read more