Bud Bud Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you—this outlook is a tough one. For the next 16 days running from July 17th through to August 1st, the surf at Bud Bud is looking pretty grim. There’s no real swell to speak of, and the conditions are mostly messy, so we’re looking at a long stretch of flat or poor-quality waves. It’s not a complete blank, but it’s close.

Let’s start with Friday July 17th. The morning’s got a tiny 2 ft swell coming from the west at a weak 4-second period, combined energy is a measly 16 — that’s real weak. The wind’s a cross-onshore at 9 mph, so it’s choppy and messy. Water temp is sitting at 72°, which is a massive 4° warmer than usual for this time of year — feels like bathwater, but not much else. Afternoon doesn’t get any better, swell drops to 1 ft and the wind picks up. Nothing doing.

Saturday July 18th starts glassy with a light north wind, but the swell’s only 0.7 ft with 8-second period — basically flat. The combined energy is just 6. Don’t bother paddling out. Afternoon turns choppy again with a 2 ft west-northwest swell, but period is a shocking 3 seconds. That’s just wind chop.

Sunday July 19th morning finally sees a clean offshore breeze from the northeast at 12 mph, but the swell is still only 1 ft at 6 seconds, energy at 12. It’s clean but tiny. Afternoon cleans up a bit with a light cross-offshore wind, but still 0.7 ft. No real surf.

From Monday July 20th through to Wednesday July 22nd, it’s the same story: clean winds, but swells hover between 0.3 ft and 0.7 ft with periods around 10 to 13 seconds. The combined energy never gets above 10. That’s flat, mate. The morning of the 22nd is glassy with a light offshore, but 0.7 ft at 10 seconds — you’d be bobbing on a still pond.

Thursday July 23rd morning shows a tiny bump: 1 ft west-northwest swell at 7 seconds, energy hits 19, and winds are clean cross-offshore. Still not surfable, but at least it’s starting to look less dead. Afternoon goes back to choppy cross-onshore.

Friday July 24th morning is dead flat with a glassy 0.7 ft at 8 seconds, energy 8. Afternoon turns lumpy. Saturday July 25th sees a slight increase: 2 ft in the morning, energy 24, but cross-onshore and choppy. Afternoon gets a 4 ft west-northwest swell at 5 seconds, energy jumps to 48 — but it’s fresh cross-onshore and lumpy. That’s kite-surfing territory, not for your longboard.

Sunday July 26th morning has a 2 ft west swell at 7 seconds, energy 52, with a light cross-onshore breeze. Still messy. Afternoon goes back to fresh cross-onshore chop. Monday July 27th morning is glassy again, with a 2 ft west swell at 7 seconds and energy 32 — clean but weak. Afternoon: 2 ft but lumpy. Tuesday July 28th is a write-off with cross-shore winds and tiny swell.

From Wednesday July 29th through to August 1st, the swell stays below 2 ft, with periods between 6 and 11 seconds, and energy maxing out at 54. The winds are a mix of clean cross-offshore and choppy cross-onshore, but it’s all too small to get excited about. The best you’ll see is a clean 2 ft on the morning of August 1st with energy at 45 — but that’s still a knee-high dribble.

So here’s the honest truth: there’s no standout day in this 16-day window. The whole stretch is a write-off for any decent surf. If you’re desperate, the cleanest windows are on July 19th morning, July 22nd morning, and July 27th morning, but you’ll be fighting for a ripple. It’s one of those quiet spells where the ocean just goes to sleep. Don’t hold your breath — forecasts can change, but right now, leave the board in the shed.

Rusty.

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