Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Blacks Reef over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid run of swell arriving, but it’s a mixed bag with the wind. The standout period is shaping up for Tuesday the 21st of July. That morning we’re looking at a clean 8ft S swell with a very long 16 second period – that’s proper groundswell energy – and the wind is dead glassy out of the WSW. The combined energy is pumping at (2957), so there’s plenty of power. This is excellent surf, but at that size and with that period, it’s going to be a lot for beginners. The reef setup should handle that long period well, though. The afternoon holds clean 7ft S swell too, at 15 seconds, with a light cross-off breeze. The crowds are often around here, so expect some company for these waves.

The run-up to that is solid. Saturday the 18th has a bit of a messy cross-shore wind, but we’ve got 5ft SE swell and energy (1360). Sunday the 19th morning builds to a clean 7ft S swell with 18-second period and energy (3233), and a light cross-shore breeze. That’s a good session. Monday the 20th is onshore and rainy, but the swell is still solid at 8ft S with 19-second period and energy (4512) – a real powerhouse, but the wind kills it.

After Tuesday the 21st, it tapers off. Wednesday the 22nd is still fun with clean 4ft S swell on the morning, and glassy conditions in the afternoon, but it’s smaller. Thursday the 23rd is a fade to 2ft S swell, not much to write home about.

Then we hit a real rough patch. From Friday the 24th of July through to the end of the month, the wind goes nasty. Friday the 24th is small and weak. Saturday the 25th has a 5ft S swell but with a strong, choppy cross-on shore – that’s a write-off. Sunday the 26th is lumpy and fresh. Monday the 27th is the worst of it: 7ft to 7ft S swell with a strong cross-on breeze at 28 mph and rain. That’s not paddle surfing – that’s kite territory, if anything.

The light at the end of the tunnel comes on Tuesday the 28th of July. The morning is small and marginal, but the afternoon shows a clean 4ft S swell with a light cross-off breeze and energy (455). It’s not the big stuff, but it’s clean. Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th are clean and small, with the 30th afternoon looking glassy on a 4ft SSE swell. The first two days of August are pretty flat and weak, with a tiny last gasp of 5ft SSW swell on Sunday the 2nd of August in glassy conditions. That’s a small clean window, but nothing spectacular.

In short: your best bet is Tuesday the 21st of July. After that, you’re waiting for a clean-up later in the week of the 28th for some smaller, clean waves.

Rusty.

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