Baya Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

We’re kicking off on Monday, July 27th, with a bit of a mixed bag. The first good news is that Baya Reef is showing some life. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is about bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Monday morning is the real highlight to start the period. We’ve got a clean 3ft swell from the south, with a period of 10 seconds, and the wind is glassy – literally 3 mph from the south. That’s as good as it gets for conditions. The combined energy is moderate at 396, so nothing too punchy, but it’s clean, and the reef will be doing its thing. This is a real standout session for the start of the week.

After that, the afternoon gets a bit bumpy. The swell picks up to 6ft from the SSE, but the wind swings onshore and gets up to 12 mph, creating a bit of a cross-chop. The energy jumps to 1092, but the quality drops. Not the best time to paddle out.

From Tuesday, July 28th, through to Wednesday, July 29th, it’s a bit of a grind. The swell drops right off to 2ft to 3ft, and the period is all over the place. The wind stays cross or cross-onshore, so the surface is messy. The energy is moderate, ranging from 304 to 577, but it’s not clean enough to get excited about. There’s a gap here with no real quality surf for a couple of days.

Thursday, July 30th, gives us a bit of a flicker. The morning sees a 3ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 19 seconds, and the energy is strong at 1255. That long period is a classic groundswell, and on a reef like Baya, it could set up some real nice lines. The wind is light and cross, so it’s workable. It’s the best option in a quiet stretch.

Friday, July 31st, through to Sunday, August 2nd, the swell builds steadily. Friday morning sees 4ft from the SW at 17 seconds, with light cross winds. The energy is strong at 1225. By Sunday morning, August 2nd, we’re looking at 7ft from the SSW at 18 seconds, and the energy is pumping at 2330. That’s a proper swell, but it’s right on the limit for a lot of folks. At 7ft, it’s getting big for beginners, and because it’s such a long period, it’ll be powerful and walled up on the reef. Expert surfers will love it, but the wind is still cross-shore, not clean offshore. The afternoons are all blown out by 16 mph winds, so mornings are the only window.

The following week, from Monday, August 3rd, to Sunday, August 10th, the swell stays solid, hovering between 5ft and 7ft, mostly from the SSW. The periods are generally 14 to 17 seconds, so there’s plenty of energy (between 1296 and 2376). But the wind is a persistent problem – it’s always cross-shore, and the afternoons are often a mess with 16 to 19 mph winds. The mornings are the only chance, with light to gentle breezes, but the surface never gets that glassy, clean look we’d want. The best of this stretch is probably Wednesday morning, August 5th, with 6ft from the SSW at 15 seconds and light winds, giving the most manageable conditions.

The last couple of days, Monday, August 10th, and Tuesday, August 11th, the swell starts to fade a little, with 5ft to 6ft, and again the problem is the wind. The morning of August 10th has light cross winds and 5ft, which is a decent option, but the afternoon is blown out. Tuesday, August 11th, is similar.

Overall, the standout is definitely Monday morning, July 27th. That glassy morning with 3ft south swell is the cleanest window we’ve got. For the bigger swells, Sunday morning, August 2nd, with 7ft and 18 seconds, is the most powerful, but it’s expert-only and the wind is just cross. It’s a shame the wind never turns truly offshore for this reef, because the energy is there for a great run.

If you’re a beginner, keep an eye on the smaller mornings around 3ft to 4ft, but be ready for the cross-shore bump. The afternoons are mostly a write-off for quality surfing.

The crowds at Baya Reef can be around sometimes, but with the conditions being a bit marginal, you might have it quieter than usual.

Rusty.

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