Bird Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s break down what’s happenin’ at Bird Rock for the next 16 days.

The water temp is 57°F, which is about average for this time of year. We’re starting with a big pulse of long-period groundswell, but the wind is gonna be a headache for the first few days. Thursday morning the 23rd brings a solid 12ft SW swell, 14-second period, and a massive combined energy of 7214. That’s a lot of power. The wind is cross-off from the W at 12 mph, so it stays clean, but the wave comment calls it marginal. By Thursday afternoon, the swell jumps to 13ft, still SW, same period, and energy hits 7834—that’s a deep, heavy ocean. Wind picks up to 16 mph from the WSW, still cross-off, so it’s clean but this is expert-only territory. Over 8ft, it’s for the experienced.

Friday the 24th: morning has 8ft from the SSW, 15-second period, 3762 energy, wind cross-off. Friday afternoon goes back to 13ft SW, 14 seconds, 8206 energy, with wind at 19 mph, still cross-off. Saturday the 25th drops a little: 7ft SSW in the morning, 13 seconds, 1394 energy, then 10ft SW in the afternoon, 12 seconds, 4032 energy. Wind is cross-off all day, so it’s surfable but not great.

Sunday the 26th sees the swell fade. Morning’s 4ft, afternoon 4ft, both SW, periods around 11 seconds. Energy drops to 390 and 339—weak. Wind goes light cross-off, and the afternoon gets a “good surf conditions” note, but it’s small. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are tiny, with swell under 3ft, but the wind goes offshore from the NW. Clean, but not enough wave. Tuesday morning has 3ft SW, 12-second period, 402 energy, with a fresh offshore at 19 mph—clean but tiny.

Then we hit a bad stretch. Wednesday the 29th brings a 13ft SSW swell, 16-second period, 7238 energy, but the wind is a nasty cross-on from the SSW at 22 mph. The wave comment is “poor surf conditions,” and it’s a 0/10. Rough, lumpy, not worth it. Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st are similar—cross-on wind, dropping swell, poor. Saturday the 1st of August is still poor, with 4ft SW and cross-on wind. Sunday the 2nd improves a little: 5ft SW, 16-second period, 1112 energy, with light cross-shore wind at 6 mph. Still marginal, but cleaner.

Now, the standout. Monday the 3rd of August morning is the best on offer. We’ve got a 6ft SW swell, 16-second period, 1548 energy—moderate power, but that long period means proper groundswell. The wind is offshore from the NW at 9 mph, which is a gentle breeze, keeping the reef clean. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the session. Crowds are sometimes there, so you might have company, but the swell direction matches the optimum for Bird Rock, so it’ll be well-shaped.

After that, it drops off. Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th are small, around 3ft to 3ft, with offshore or cross-off wind, clean but weak. Thursday the 6th has a bit more size—4ft in the morning, 6ft in the afternoon, with a long 19-second period, but the wind goes onshore from the SE in the afternoon, killing it. Friday the 7th is poor, with cross-onshore wind.

There’s a big gap of poor conditions from the 29th of July through the 2nd of August. The real standout is Monday the 3rd of August morning. For experienced surfers, that’s the one to chase. The rest is either too big with bad wind, or too small. Keep an eye on it, but for now, that Monday morning is the pick.

Rusty.

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