Bay Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a 16-day window, but I’m not gonna lie to you, it’s a tough stretch for Bay Street. The first week is a write-off, with a mix of onshore winds and weak, messy junk. You’ll be sitting on the beach for a solid 5 days before we even find a sniff of something rideable. The water is sitting at 71°, which is a solid 6° warmer than usual for the time of year – that’s a proper anomaly, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.

The first real chance comes on Monday, July 20th, with a tiny 2ft SW swell creeping in, but the wind is cross-onshore and the wave comment is just “marginal.” It’s not worth rushing. The energy is weak (287) and the period is a middling 15 seconds, so it’s a long period swell that can be tricky at a beach setup. Honestly, it’s more of a “check the tide” situation than a proper session.

The story really starts to shift on Friday, July 24th. The morning shows a 2ft SSW swell with a period of 24 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell, and the energy reading jumps to 555 (moderate). The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not glassy, but it’s clean enough. This is the first standout of the run. The wave comment is still “marginal,” but the swell direction is a perfect match for the break’s optimum WSW. If you’re a beginner, 2ft is about right, and the long period means the sets will be fat and spaced out, making it easier to paddle. Expect crowds sometimes.

The next highlight rolls in on Saturday, July 25th. The morning delivers a 2ft SW swell with a 21-second period and a jump in energy to 721 (moderate). The wind is light cross-onshore again. The size is still small, but that long period gives it a lot of push for a beach break. It’s not a world-beater, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far. Again, the wind is the main letdown – if it swung offshore, this would be a ripper.

Moving into the last week, the swell starts to build a touch. Monday, July 27th, shows 3ft SW at 18 seconds, with a solid energy reading of 612. The wind is onshore, unfortunately, which kills the quality. The wave comment stays “marginal.” This pattern holds through to Tuesday, July 28th, with 3ft SSW swell and onshore wind. The energy is 646, so there’s push, but the wind is trash.

The last possible standout is on Friday, July 31st. The morning shows a 4ft S swell with a 15-second period and energy of 567. The wind is light onshore, but the comment is “marginal.” The size is getting up there for a beginner, but it’s still small enough for a confident learner. For a better surfer, the short period (15 seconds) and onshore wind will make it a bit of a chop-fest. The following Saturday, August 1st, is similar with 4ft S swell, but the wind and period are the same story.

To be honest, the best on offer is Friday, July 24th, and Saturday, July 25th, for the most consistent, clean-ish conditions. The long period groundswell will give you smooth, gliding waves, but it’s all small. If you’re an expert, you’re better off waiting for a bigger swell window. This is a beginner’s stretch, and even then, you’re fighting the wind. If the wind was offshore, any of these days would be a gem. As it is, you’re looking at a “maybe” for a quick paddle, not a barrel session.

Rusty.

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