Cardiff Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Cardiff Reef over the next couple of weeks. Straight up – this isn't going to be a classic run. The pattern is pretty flat and disappointing for a while, with only the faintest glimmers of something rideable. Most of the period is marginal at best, so temper your expectations.

We kick off on Saturday the 4th of July, but don’t get excited. We’ve got a small 3 ft SSW swell with a solid 14-second period, which is a nice long-period groundswell. The combined energy is moderate at 460, but the word on the street is "poor surf conditions." With a 15 km/h WNW wind blowing offshore, you’d think it’d be clean, but the swell just isn’t showing any quality. It’s one for the diehards only.

Sunday the 5th and Monday the 6th are more of the same – small 2 ft to 3 ft SSW swell, with periods stretching out to 18 and 20 seconds. That’s very long-period energy, which at a reef setup like this can be a bonus, but the models are calling it "marginal" at best. The combined energy bumps up a bit – 513 on Sunday morning, 743 on Monday afternoon – but with offshore winds still blowing, it’s just not coming together into anything you’d rush for.

Tuesday the 7th through Friday the 10th stay frustrating. Swell sits around 3 ft to 4 ft from the SSW, but the wind goes cross-onshore, which kills any chance of clean faces. Combined energy is moderate to strong – peaking at 859 on Tuesday morning – but with a light cross-onshore breeze, it’s going to be choppy and messy. Not worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate to wet the suit.

From Saturday the 11th right through to Saturday the 18th of July, it’s a brutal stretch. Swell drops to 1 ft to 3 ft, periods are all over the place, and the combined energy falls off a cliff – down to as low as 146 and 174. The wind stays either offshore or light cross-onshore, but there’s just no push. "Poor surf conditions" is the running theme. This is about as empty as it gets.

The only faint heartbeat shows up on Saturday the 18th of July morning. We get a 3 ft SW swell with a 17-second period – another very long-period groundswell – and the combined energy jumps back to 538. Offshore wind from the W at 15 km/h. Even then, the rating is "marginal." It’s the best of a bad bunch, but don’t set your alarm for it.

Honestly, if you’re a kite surfer, the moderate energy days with cross-onshore wind might be more interesting than trying to paddle this tiny, inconsistent stuff. For the rest of us, it’s a waiting game. Forecasts can change, but right now, Cardiff Reef looks like a write-off for the next two and a half weeks.

Stay tuned, I’ll keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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