Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. We’ve got one spot on the radar for the next couple of weeks, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Let’s get into it.

The forecast kicks off with a real sweet spot, but it’s got a pretty short window of glory before things get tricky. For the first few days, we’ve got some solid, clean surf on offer, but then it turns into a run of days where the conditions are marginal, and then we’re looking at a stretch where the swell gets way too big for most of us. The second week is a write-off for paddle surfing, with massive, unruly energy.

First up, the standout. Buffalo Bay Wildside is looking prime on Sunday morning, the 19th of July. We’re talking a 5ft SW swell with a 12-second period, and the wind is glassy. The water is sitting at 64°, which is about average for this time of year. The energy is moderate (837), and it’s setting up for some really clean, fun waves. The swell direction is a tick up from the forecast optimum, so it should be working well. Expect some crowds, though – it’s a spot that can get busy.

Monday morning, the 20th, is also a beauty. The swell bumps up to 6ft from the SW, 11-second period, with glassy conditions again. The energy is moderate (1051), and it’s going to be excellent for experienced surfers. This is your second best window.

Tuesday the 21st keeps the good times rolling. The morning is glassy, with a 6ft SSW swell and a very long 14-second period. The energy is strong (1695). That long period means the waves will have heaps of power and shape, but it might be a bit straight at this beach break, so keep that in mind. The afternoon sees the swell hit 8ft with the same long period, but the wind is clean cross-off, so it’s still very good for the experienced crew.

Then we hit a slump. From Wednesday the 22nd right through to Saturday the 26th, the conditions get messy. The winds turn onshore or cross-onshore, and the surf quality goes downhill. There’s a gap of about three days where the recommendation is poor.

The next run of decent conditions picks up again on Sunday the 26th. The morning brings a 6ft SW swell, 12-second period, with clean cross-off winds. The energy is moderate (1112). The afternoon is similar, with a 5ft swell. It’s a nice, clean finish to the first week.

But hold on. From Monday the 27th, the wind turns onshore again, and the surf quality is marginal for the rest of the month. The swell is still decent in size, but the wind is just not cooperating.

Then, from Friday the 31st of July, things go seriously wild. The swell jumps to 15ft from the ESE, with a short 10-second period. The energy is massive (3948). The wind is offshore or glassy, so it’s clean, but the size is only for absolute experts. The combined energy is very strong (4,422 to 7,196). This trend continues right through the first few days of August. The swell stays huge, over 12ft, and is way too big for this break. If you’re a kite surfer, this setup might look interesting, but for paddle surfing, it’s a hard pass. The best of the second week, if you’re insane, would be the glassy afternoons on the 31st of July and the 1st of August, but the swell is still 15ft.

The run of huge, unsurfable swell lasts until Monday the 3rd of August, when it finally drops back to a manageable 5ft, but the conditions are marginal again.

So, there you have it. Don’t sleep on the first week, especially Sunday and Monday the 19th and 20th, and Tuesday the 21st. After that, it’s a waiting game until the end of the month, and even then, it’s just for the brave or the foolish.

Rusty.

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