Blackhead Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk Blackhead in feet and Fahrenheit. This is Rusty, and it’s a story of patience and picking your windows.

First thing, the water’s running about 54°F, which is a bit colder than average for the time of year. You’ll need a thick suit.

The start is slow. Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st of July are pretty flat. Thursday has a 4ft swell from the ESE with a light crosswind, but the energy is weak (465) and the conditions are messy. Friday morning has a cleaner look with a NW wind, but the swell is tiny at 3ft. Friday afternoon has a fresh offshore wind, but the swell is even smaller. Not worth getting out of bed for.

The first real standout hits on the weekend. Saturday the 1st of August sees a big jump. We’re looking at a solid 13ft SSW swell with a moderate period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is massive (3441), and it’s clean with a cross-offshore wind. This is powerful, serious surf. At 13ft, this is for experts only. It’s a point break, so it should handle the size, but it’s inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for the sets. Expect some crowd.

Sunday the 2nd of August is the best on offer in the first week. The swell drops to a more manageable 8ft from the S, with a longer 11-second period. The wind is offshore and light, creating excellent conditions. The energy is still strong (1724), and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is the window. Sunday afternoon holds up nicely too, with a 8ft S swell and clean conditions.

Monday the 3rd has a smaller 4ft swell from the SSE, but the wind is offshore and the energy is moderate (640). It’s a good option for a beginner or intermediate if the weekend was too big. The following Tuesday and Wednesday see another pulse of S swell, around 8ft, with a very long 14-second period. This is groundswell, and it’s clean. The energy is high (2422 and 2639). This is a point break, so that long period will give you nice, lined-up waves. Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning are the picks here.

The middle of the week gets smaller and clean again. Thursday the 6th of August has a tiny 3ft S swell, but the wind goes glassy in the afternoon. It’s a beautiful, calm day for a longboard.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Friday the 7th through to Wednesday the 12th, the wind turns onshore from the east, and the swell gets messy. There’s some size, like 12ft on Friday, but the wind is on it, making it poor. The energy is there (2449), but it’s not a surfing day. This stretch of poor surf lasts about five days.

The outlook brightens again on Thursday the 13th of August. The wind goes glassy in the morning, and we get a 6ft swell from the ENE with a long 12-second period. The energy is moderate (918), and the conditions are clean. This is a solid, promising day for a session, but being this far out, keep an eye on the forecast.

Other than Sunday the 2nd and Tuesday the 4th, the rest of the second week is either small, windy, or just not worth the paddle. The 13th has potential, but it’s a week and a half away, so don’t lock it in yet.

Rusty.

Read more