Big Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for Big Beach.

First off, the water’s sitting at a nice 80°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year – no surprises there.

The forecast starts on Monday, July 20th, and honestly, it’s a slow start. We’ve got small, clean waves rolling in at about 3 feet from the south, with a long 16-second period pushing some decent energy. The combined swell energy is 495 (moderate), and with glassy conditions in the morning, it’s a good time for a beginner to get some practice. The wind stays light and cross-off through the afternoon, keeping things tidy.

Tuesday, July 21st, holds similar size – around 3 feet from the south – but the period drops to 14 seconds and the wind picks up a bit. It’s still clean, but nothing to write home about. The afternoon gets some rain showers and a gusty 12 mph cross-off, making it a bit more of a mission.

Now, Wednesday July 22nd through Friday July 24th is where the character changes. The swell drops to 2-3 feet, but the direction swings to the SSW and the period jumps way up – we’re talking 24 seconds on Wednesday morning, then 23, 20, 18 seconds. This is proper long-period groundswell. The combined energy spikes into the 600s and even 864 (moderate to strong) on Friday afternoon. The catch? These long-period swells can be a bit too straight for a beach break like this, but with offshore winds on Thursday and Friday afternoons, the waves should be clean and well-shaped. This is probably the best on offer – the standout window is Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon, with 3-3 feet SSW swell, clean offshore wind, and that long-period energy giving the waves some punch.

Saturday, July 25th, looks good too. A solid 3 feet from the SSW, 18-second period, and offshore winds in the afternoon. Clean conditions, good energy (670). This is a solid session for anyone who can handle a bit of a longer paddle-out between sets.

Sunday, July 26th, through to the end of the month keeps up the small, clean, offshore theme. The swell hangs around 2-3 feet, mostly from the SSW, with periods settling into the 13-18 second range. The energy drops off a bit (down to 191-472), but the wind is often light or offshore, keeping the surface glassy. Crowds can be a thing here sometimes, so get in early.

The first week of August sees a real drop-off. From August 1st to the 4th, the swell shrinks to 2-2 feet, the wind turns cross-off more often, and the energy bottoms out in the 140s and 200s. The conditions are described as poor or ordinary. There’s a brief blip on Tuesday, August 4th, with a 2-foot SSW swell, 18-second period, and offshore wind, giving a bit of energy (344) and clean faces – but it’s a marginal window.

Overall, the standout is Thursday July 23rd and Friday July 24th, with that long-period groundswell and offshore winds. After that, it’s a slow fade into small, clean but unexciting waves. If you’re a beginner, the first few days are your best bet for safe, small waves.

Rusty.

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