Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming down the line for Blacks Reef.

First things first, this reef is set up for a south swell, and that’s exactly what’s on the cards over the next couple of weeks. The water’s running a bit colder than usual, about 55.4°, which is a full 2.7° below average for this time of year. Grab the thicker wetsuit if you’ve got one.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start but things kick off proper on Friday afternoon, July 3rd. A clean 4.6ft south-east swell with a nice 12-second period is rolling in, combined energy reading a solid 672. The wind is a light cross-off from the east-northeast at just 3 mph, so the conditions are looking set for some very good surf. It’s a reef, so it'll hold that swell well.

Saturday morning, July 4th, looks like a repeat – clean 4.6ft swell, still from the south-east, with a bit more wind (6 mph from the north) but still cross-off. The afternoon gets a bit more offshore from the north-northeast at 9 mph, with the swell shifting just a touch east. Good, clean waves.

Sunday, July 5th, the swell backs off a little – 3.6ft in the morning and down to 3ft by the afternoon. The period drops to 10 seconds, and the energy drops to 243 then 173. Still clean with offshore winds, but the size is running low.

Monday the 6th is a write-off. Tiny, weak junk. Barely a ripple. A gap, really.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday morning, July 7th, the swell jumps back up to 4.6ft with a 9-second period, and here’s the kicker: glassy conditions. The wind is a whisper at 3 mph from the north-northeast. That’s a major positive. The energy is back up at 720. This is a standout window. Get out there for the morning glass-off before the wind swings onshore in the afternoon.

Wednesday the 8th morning is another absolute gem. The swell bumps up to 5.6ft from the east-southeast (10-second period), the combined energy hits 789, and the wind is dead calm. Glass. Zero wind. This is as clean as it gets. But again, the afternoon turns to rubbish with a cross-onshore.

We hit a rough patch from Thursday the 9th through Sunday the 12th. The wind goes strong onshore and it rains. The swell gets big – we’re talking 18ft from the south on Friday the 10th. The energy reading on that is a massive 7036. But the wind is howling onshore at 22 mph. That’s not paddle surfing; that’s kite territory at a beach setup. For this reef, it’s a pass.

That stormy period clears by Monday morning, July 13th. The swell drops to a more manageable 6.6ft from the south-southeast (short 8-second period), but the wind goes glassy again. Rain showers around, but the surface is clean. This is a solid, more powerful option for those who can handle it, though the short period means the sets might be a bit dumpy on the reef.

Tuesday the 14th offers a 6.2ft south-east swell with a long 10-second period, but the wind is a moderate cross-off at 12 mph. It’s clean, but bumpy. Combined energy is well into the 1200 range.

The real standout of the whole run is Wednesday afternoon, July 15th. The swell sits at a meaty 5.9ft from the south-east, with a gorgeous 12-second period. The combined energy is a beefy 1446. And the wind? Dead glass from the east-southeast at just 3 mph. This is excellent for experienced surfers. The long period means the reef will line up perfectly. This is the session to circle on your calendar.

The weekend after that, July 17th and 18th, still has some punch. Friday afternoon the 17th has a 9.8ft swell (period 10 seconds) going glassy again, but that size is pushing into expert-only territory with a combined energy of 2020. Saturday the 18th has a cleaner 6.2ft south-east swell with a 12-second period and light offshores again. Good solid finish to the run.

Alright, that’s the story for Blacks Reef. See you in the water.

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