Big Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m Rusty, and let’s talk about Big Beach for the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, the surf is tiny. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak waves, and the first decent window isn’t until the weekend of July 11th and 12th. So, there’s a few days of waiting.

From the 8th to the 10th, it’s ankle to knee-high. The swell is from the south, around 2 to 2 feet, with a short period of 12 to 14 seconds, so not much energy. The combined energy is low, between 120 and 203. The wind is offshore or cross-off, which keeps the surface clean, but there’s just not enough wave to ride.

Things start to look better on the 11th of July. We get a small pulse of south-west swell, still only 2 to 3 feet, but the period jumps to 18 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, meaning better shape and more energy, but longer waits between sets. The combined energy on the 11th afternoon is 309, which is moderate. The wind is offshore on the 11th and 12th, so conditions should be clean. This is the best of the first week. The water temp is 80°F, which is about 1°F warmer than average, so nothing too crazy.

The real standout is the morning of the 20th of July. There’s a south swell of about 2 feet, with a 15-second period, and the combined energy is 289. The wind is from the north-northeast at 9 mph, which is offshore and gentle. That’s going to be glassy and clean. Then the afternoon of the 20th looks even better: 3 feet from the south, 16-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 455. The wind is offshore at 12 mph. That 20th of July is the one to watch. It’s a long way out, so take it with a grain of salt, but it’s the best bet.

The 11th and 12th are also decent, but the swell is smaller. The 11th morning has 2 feet from the south-west with an 18-second period, combined energy of 270, and offshore wind. That’s a good combo for a point break or reef, but at a beach break like Big Beach, that long period might make the waves a bit too straight. Still, with offshore wind, it’ll be clean.

After the 14th, the swell gets mixed up with some west and south-west pulses, but the combined energy drops, and the wind goes cross-off. By the 18th, we’ve got moderate to fresh breezes and the combined energy is down to 234. The surf is small and the conditions are ordinary. The 19th afternoon has a slight uptick with a 2-foot south-southwest swell, but it’s all very average.

The 22nd of July has a small south swell with 3 feet at 13 seconds, combined energy of 285, and light wind in the morning. That’s a maybe, but not a standout.

So, the best surf in this 16-day window is on the 20th of July, with the 11th and 12th as a solid second option. Crowds at Big Beach can be a problem sometimes, so be ready for that. Everything else is either too small, too weak, or just plain ordinary. For beginners, this whole period is very small and safe, but the bigger days on the 20th are still only 3 feet, so it’s fine for everyone.

Rusty.

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