Big Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty back again. Let’s talk about the same stretch, but in feet and miles.

So, the water’s feeling like a hot tub – it’s running 72°F, which is about 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a serious warm anomaly you’ll feel at Big Rock.

The first week and a half is pretty much a bust. From Sunday the 19th through Tuesday the 21st, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell around 3 ft to 4 ft from the SW. The period is long, between 15 and 17 seconds, but there’s just no power behind it. The combined energy is moderate, from 474 to 778. The wind is offshore from the W and WNW, but the wave conditions are calling it marginal or poor. Not worth wetting a wetsuit.

Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd are more of the same – small, inconsistent, with the swell staying under 4 ft. The wind turns cross-onshore a bit, adding some chop. The energy drops to the 377 to 572 range.

Friday the 24th is a tease. The swell period jumps to 24 seconds – that’s some serious groundswell – but the height drops to 2 ft, with combined energy of 943. The wind is cross-onshore, and the wave comment says marginal. That long period might make it a bit too straight for the reef here, but it’s not enough to get excited about.

The weekend of the 25th and 26th is more of the same: small SW swell, periods in the 19 to 21 second range, energy in the 700s and 800s, and light cross-onshore winds. Just waiting.

The real standout doesn’t show up until Friday the 31st of July. That morning, we see a 6 ft SSW swell, but by the afternoon it’s pumping up to 8 ft from the SSW, with a period of 15 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 2157 – that’s strong wave energy. The wind is offshore from the W at 6 mph, making for clean conditions. The wave comment says the wind and tide are favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. At 8 ft, this is expert territory only. This is the best on offer, but it’s a long way off and the forecast confidence is lower. Saturday the 1st of August still has 6 ft to 6 ft SSW swell, with energy over 1000, but the wind shifts cross-onshore, so Friday afternoon is the real gem.

The pick of the entire 16 days: Friday afternoon, the 31st of July, at Big Rock. The 8 ft SSW swell, 15-second period, and clean offshore wind from the W make for heavy, powerful waves. The combined energy is 2157. That’s a proper session for the experienced crew only. The rest of the stretch is a lot of waiting for something to happen.

Rusty, signing off.

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