Bird Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is a classic Bird Rock reef setup, a spot that really needs the right direction and wind to shine. We’ve got a long window here, but it’s not all winners.

Overall, the pattern is a slow burn. The first several days are nothing to write home about. The swell is there, but the wind keeps it messy with cross-off conditions. The big energy spikes early on, like on the 23rd with a massive 5398 (moderate to strong combined energy) and a 10-foot SW swell, is let down by that 15 mph cross-off wind. It’s clean but the wind is just strong enough to push it off the ideal lines. The period’s at 14 seconds which is good groundswell, but the quality just isn’t there.

The real standout isn’t until *Sunday the 2nd of August*. That morning, the stars line up a bit. You’ve got a solid 7-foot swell coming from the SSW, period at 16 seconds, so it’s proper groundswell. The energy is still kicking at 1973 (moderate). But the key here is the WSW wind at just 6 mph – light cross-off. That combination gives you a clean face on a reef known for holding its own. This is the closest we get to a winner: good size, good energy, and light offshore-ish wind. For experienced surfers, that’s the session to aim for.

There’s another whisper on *Thursday the 7th of August* – a 4-foot SW swell with an 18-second period, and a moderate 16 mph NNE cross-off wind. The energy is moderate (855), and the period is super long, so it’ll be a bit wonky at Bird Rock being a reef, but if the tide’s right, those long lines could be special. It’s a long-range call so don’t bet the house on it.

The water on the 23rd is sitting at 57°F, which is about average for this time of year. Nothing weird going on there.

The rest of the window? Gaps of several days with poor to marginal scores. The swell is often too clean-up or the wind fouls it. The early part of the second week (around the 28th-29th July) has decent size but fresh offshore winds so it’s more for the experienced crew. After the 2nd, it drops away again.

Bird Rock is a reef, fairly exposed, and can be inconsistent. It’s a fairly consistent spot usually, but this forecast is patchy. Crowds are sometimes there, so that Sunday morning might be worth the early alarm.

Stay patient. That Sunday the 2nd is the one to circle.

Rusty

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