Big Wave Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I'm Rusty, and I've got to level with you – this 16-day stretch for Big Wave Bay is looking real flat. We've got a long stretch of nothing but tiny, weak waves and messy conditions. The first bit of real size doesn't even show up until Sunday, July 26th, and even then, it's a total disaster.

The whole first week is a washout. From now through Saturday, July 25th, we're talking about ankle-snappers at best, with swell heights barely reaching 0.3ft. The wave energy is non-existent, with values like 1 or 2 (weak energy). Winds are all over the place, mostly cross-onshore or glassy, but with no swell to work with, it doesn't matter. Not a single wave worth paddling for.

Then, on Sunday, July 26th, the bottom drops out. A massive swell arrives, throwing up 18ft of swell from the SE. The combined energy reading is a staggering 10058 (very strong wave energy), but don't get excited. The wind is screaming at 34 mph from the NE, creating a near-gale cross-shore mess. The conditions are "poor" and the wave comment is "poor surf conditions". This isn't surfer territory; this is survival stuff. For a sheltered spot like Big Wave Bay, that kind of size and wind is just ugly. It's honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, if you're into that.

Monday, July 27th through Tuesday, July 28th sees the swell drop but it's still got some energy, around 4ft to 5ft, with readings in the 125 to 238 range (moderate wave energy). But the wind is still howling onshore from the SE and E, making it lumpy and choppy. The period is a short, weak 6 to 7 seconds, so it's all wind chop. Another pass.

From Wednesday, July 29th onward, the swell fades right back down to almost nothing, with wave energy dropping to double digits and then single digits (weak energy). The wind does clean up on some days, going cross-offshore from the W and WSW, giving us some glassy conditions. On the 30th and 31st, we get clean 0.7ft to 1ft waves, but it's just too small to do anything. There's a pulse of longer-period swell (14-15 seconds) on the 2nd and 3rd of August, but the swell height is still only 0.7ft to 2ft, so it's just a tease. The energy picks up to 163 (moderate wave energy) on the afternoon of the 3rd, but with cross-onshore wind, it's just chopped up.

Honestly, in this entire 16-day window, there is not a single standout. There's no good surf on offer. The consistency is there for the break, but the swell and wind just never line up. It's a blank run, plain and simple. For a spot that's usually fairly consistent, this is a tough stretch. Forecasts can change, but right now, I'd be finding something else to do for the next two weeks.

Rusty.

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