Bunkers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for Bunkers over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’ve got a long gap here with nothing worth paddling out for until Monday 20 July. Even then, the surf is pretty marginal. The water’s sitting at a chilly 54°F, which is a bit colder than what we'd normally expect for this time of year (anomaly -1°F). The first few days are a real struggle. Monday the 20th serves up weak 6ft to 6ft swell from the NW with a short, choppy 8-second period, blown-out by a cross-onshore wind. The energy is weak (744 – 722), and the waves will be messy. That sets the tone for a while.

Tuesday the 21st is even smaller, dropping to 2ft, with a long period swell from the SW (16 seconds) but the cross-onshore wind kills it. The energy stays moderate (545 – 489) but those waves just won't have any punch. We basically have a run of poor to marginal conditions with tiny, weak swell and unfavourable winds right through to the end of July. The few times we get a bit of offshore wind (like Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd, Saturday 25th) the swell is tiny – under 3 feet – and the period is mixed. It’s just not making the cut.

Now, around Friday 24 July into the next week, the swell energy starts to climb fast – hitting four-digit figures (702, 1301, 1759) – but the wind is still cross-on and the surf reports call it marginal. The period gets really long (21-24 seconds) on that SW groundswell, which *could* be interesting, but with that cross-onshore flow it’s more of a tease than a treat. The crowds at Bunkers are sometimes an issue, but honestly, I don't think many will be out there for this stuff.

The near-term is a washout for good, clean waves.

Looking way out, there is a flicker of something. On Monday 3 August and Tuesday 4 August, we see a solid 10ft swell from the NNW, pushing hard into the exposed break. On Tuesday the 4th, we finally get a morning cross-shore wind and a lighter breeze (15 km/h, cross). The swell period is a short 9 seconds, which is less than ideal for a groundswell, meaning the waves will be a bit fat and crumbly, not the nice lines we'd want. Still, it’s the biggest energy we've seen (1458) and the cleanest wind. For a brief moment, it might look a bit more interesting for the more experienced guys, but with that period it’s still a bit of a gamble. It’s too big for beginners (over 8ft) and with the short period, it won’t be easy.

If I had to pick one standout from this whole mess, it’s a shaky call. Tuesday 4 August morning at Bunkers. The 10ft NNW swell with a cross-shore light breeze is about the best we see. The wind won't be ideal, but it's the closest we get to clean conditions on any decent sized swell. The break is exposed and it's a beginner spot, but with that size it’s for the hardcore.

Honestly, for most of this fortnight, kite surfers might find the consistent cross-onshore winds and messy, short-period swell more fun than we will. It’s a quiet stretch, but don't lose hope – forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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