Banna Strand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the menu for Banna Strand over the next couple of weeks. I’ll level with you straight up: we’ve got a long, dry spell ahead before anything really worth paddling out for shows up. The first real glimmer of hope is a solid week away, so don’t be in a rush.

For the first week, it’s just not happening. Starting Friday the 31st of July, we’ve got a weak 4 ft swell from the WNW, but with a 12 mph onshore wind and a short period of 7 seconds, it’s messy and basically unrideable. The water is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s the only highlight. Saturday and Sunday the 1st and 2nd of August stay tiny, with the swell dropping to under 3 ft and the wind switching around but not doing us any favors. The combined wave energy is pretty weak, sitting around 90 to 141 (moderate at best) for the first couple of days, then it just fizzles out into the single digits and low double digits – total dud.

From Monday the 3rd through to Saturday the 8th of August, the swell stays below 2 ft. There are a few moments of glassy or clean conditions, like Tuesday morning the 4th with glassy winds and a tiny 0.3 ft swell, but it’s just not enough to surf. The 7th of August has a glassy morning too, but again, it’s only 1.0 ft. You’d be better off having a coffee and watching the horizon.

Now, things finally start to look interesting on Sunday the 9th of August. The swell jumps up to 5 ft to 6 ft from the W, but it’s getting hammered by a 9 mph onshore wind and the period is a short, weak 6-7 seconds. The energy climbs to 279 (moderate), but the conditions are still poor. The real standout arrives on Monday the 10th of August. This is the one to circle on the calendar. We’ve got a clean 6 ft swell from the WNW, paired with a light offshore breeze from the SE, and the period stretches to 8 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 436 (moderate-to-strong). This is a proper surfable window. The swell is a bit much for beginners, but for intermediates and above, Banna Strand will be offering up some punchy, clean lines. The wind is cross-offshore, keeping the faces tidy. Crowds are often here, so expect some company, but it’ll be worth it.

After that, the swell fades fast. Tuesday the 11th back to 2 ft, and the rest of the week into the 15th of August stays tiny, with onshore or cross-shore winds and choppy conditions. The 13th and 14th see the wind picking up to 12-16 mph, making it a write-off.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a complete washout. The only real window is Monday the 10th of August. That morning and afternoon session with the 6 ft clean WNW swell and light offshore breeze is the best we’re going to get. It’s not a classic, long-period groundswell, but it’s a solid, ridable day. After that, it’s back to flat spells. Don’t hold your breath for the second week.

Rusty.

Read more