Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, talking in feet and miles per hour.

Overall, it’s a classic winter blockbuster for the region, but you’ve got to be patient. The first few days are a write-off, then it goes absolutely nuts for a solid week. The standout is Burleigh Heads, a point break that loves a solid SSE swell. The water is 70°, which is about average for the time of year.

The period starts flat. Wednesday and Thursday the 15th and 16th are flat or messy, with a tiny 0.7ft swell Wednesday morning, then a steep climb to 10ft by Thursday, but the wind is a cross-off 19 mph, and the forecast is marginal. Give it a miss. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th are about the build. Friday morning sees 8ft of SSE swell, but it’s a short period 8 seconds, wind a fresh 19 mph cross-off. It’s raw, not clean. Saturday the 18th gets serious. The swell jumps to 13ft in the morning, hitting 16ft by afternoon with a 10-second period from the SSE. The combined energy is pumping – 2998 and 4807, which is strong to very strong. But the wind is howling at 22-25 mph cross-off. This is big, powerful, and lumpy. For experts only. Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th are similar – 13ft to 15ft of SE swell, long period 10-11 seconds, but pinned by 19-25 mph cross-off winds. The energy is massive (3340-4096), but quality is marginal. This is heavy freight-train stuff. More for the kite crew than the paddle surfer.

The real window opens Tuesday the 21st. The swell drops to a manageable 8ft from the ESE, period 10 seconds, wind easing to a moderate 12 mph cross-off. The energy is solid at 1419. This is the start of the good stuff. Wednesday the 22nd is the pick. The swell is 6ft from the east, period 10 seconds, wind dropping to a gentle 9 mph cross-off. The water goes glassy, and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is clean, lined-up Burleigh. The best on offer. Thursday the 23rd is also lovely – 5ft of east swell, light variable wind, clean. From Friday the 24th, the swell fades to 5ft then 4ft, and the wind swings cross-on at times, getting bumpy. The last week of the month is ordinary. From the 25th to the 28th, the swell is small, under 3ft, with messy wind. There’s a tiny spike on the 26th with 6ft of short-period SSE swell, but the wind is up. The 29th has a nice 4ft SSE swell with a 10-second period and light wind, a good sign, but that’s Wednesday the 29th of July. A distant but promising option.

So, the best is Wednesday the 22nd, with clean 6ft east swell and light wind. Second standout is Thursday the 23rd, with 5ft east swell and glassy conditions. If you’re an expert, the big days from the 18th to the 20th are a spectacle, but don’t expect a smooth ride.

Rusty.

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