Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Cliffs over the next couple of weeks.

First things first, the water temp is sitting at a pretty warm 80°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no need to worry about a thick wetsuit.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days – Tuesday the 21st through to the end of next week – are mostly a write-off. The swell is tiny and the wind is a solid cross-off breeze that’s just making a mess of things. The wave energy is actually pretty high for such small waves, but it’s all wrong. The combined energy hits 401 on Tuesday morning, but that’s just a long-period groundswell with a 14-second period hitting the beach and reef setup. It’s breaking too straight and the wind is too strong, so it’s not worth paddling out. Between Tuesday and Saturday the 26th, it’s a real struggle. The swell is barely 2 ft to 3 ft, and the wind is 18-25 mph from the ENE. It’s a kite-surfing kind of window, not a paddle-surfing one.

Now, things start to get interesting around Sunday the 26th. The swell picks up to 5 ft in the morning and 5 ft in the afternoon from the East, with a 16-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, and the combined energy jumps to 1302 and then 1573. That’s strong wave energy. The wind stays a cross-off, but it’s a moderate breeze, so it’s still clean. It’s a bit of a caveat though – this long-period swell (16 seconds) tends to break a bit straight at Cliffs since it’s a beach and reef setup, so it might not be as good as the numbers suggest. Still, it’s the best we’ve seen in a while. The wave heights are on the edge for beginners (5 ft), so it’s more for the intermediate crew.

The following Monday and Tuesday (the 27th and 28th) keep that energy rolling. Monday sees 5 ft from the East with a 14-second period, and Tuesday bumps up to 6 ft from the East with a 13-second period. The combined energy stays strong, around 1200 to 1300. The wind is still a moderate cross-off, so it’s clean. These are the standouts of the whole forecast. Tuesday the 28th morning is the pick: 6 ft East swell, 13-second period, and light enough wind (15 mph) to keep it inviting. The crowds are marked as “sometimes,” so you might have some company.

After that, we drop off a cliff. From Wednesday the 29th onward, the swell collapses back to 2 ft to 3 ft, and the wind gets cranky again. There’s a glimmer on Thursday the 30th with a 2 ft SW swell and a very long 18-second period, and the wind is light (6 mph – almost glassy). The combined energy is only 275, so it’s weak, but it’ll be clean. It’s a long shot, but if you’re desperate for a tiny wave, that’s the window. The rest of the first week of August is just more of the same – small, windy, and not worth it.

So, the best on offer is that Tuesday the 28th of July morning. 6 ft East swell, moderate wind, and the best wave energy of the run. Get it while it’s there.

Rusty.

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