Cardiff Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the cards.

The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, and honestly, for the first few days, we’ve got to be patient. The surf will be there, but it’ll be fighting a cross-onshore wind that keeps things on the choppy side. Nothing is a total standout at the start, but there’s a pulse of swell that builds through the first few days.

From Sunday the 26th of July, Cardiff Reef is running. We’ve got a solid, long-period groundswell from the SW at 4 ft, with a period of 19 seconds, giving us that deep, powerful feel. The combined wave energy is moderate, hitting 961. The wind is a light cross-onshore breeze at 6 mph, so there’s a little bump on the surface, but nothing too ugly. It’s an intermediate-level wave, and crowds are sometimes an issue here. The water temperature is about average for the time of year. The swell direction (SW) is a little off the optimum (WNW), so not perfect, but there’s enough juice to get some fun ones. This is the best on offer for the first week.

By Monday the 27th, the swell builds a touch, hitting 4 ft from the SSW, with the period dropping slightly to 18 seconds. The energy jumps up to 1152 (moderate), but that cross-onshore breeze picks up to 9 mph, making it a bit more choppy and harder to really enjoy. Tuesday morning, the swell pushes to 5 ft (SSW), still with that 9 mph cross-onshore breeze, so it’s workable but not glassy.

Wednesday is more of the same, and by Thursday the 30th, the swell drops off a cliff, with a weak 2 ft from the W at a 7-second period, carrying only 36 in combined energy. That’s pretty much flat. This poor spell hangs around for several days, with tiny, weak swells through to the end of the first week and into the second.

Things try to pick up a little on Friday the 31st, with a late-arriving 6 ft SSW swell at a 13-second period, energy at 1222, but the wind is onshore from the W at 9 mph. That’s a messy setup. Saturday the 1st of August still has some size at 5 ft, but the onshore wind is still spoiling the party. These are only really for the dedicated, but the quality is poor.

After that, from Sunday the 2nd of August right through to the end of the outlook on the 10th of August, it’s a long, dry gap of small, weak swells, mostly under 3 ft, with energy dropping well below 500, often into the weak range. The wind remains cross-onshore or onshore, and the breaks are not delivering. You’re looking at a solid week with nothing worth paddling out for.

In summary, the only real action is in that first few days, with the best wave quality being Sunday the 26th. After that, the ocean shuts down for the most part. It’s a classic case of get it while you can at the start, then be ready for a flat spell. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because things can change, but this run looks pretty quiet.

Rusty.

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