Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Conto Springs, a reef break that handles the bigger stuff better than most. It’s exposed to the swell and picks up a SSW direction best, and we’ll be seeing plenty of that over the next few days. The water is sitting at 67°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year.

The pattern kicks off Saturday morning, 11 July, with a solid 10 ft SW swell rolling in at a long 14-second period. The wind is light from the south, cross-offshore, and conditions are clean. This is serious wave energy – the combined energy reading is 2752 (moderate-to-strong). It’s a big, powerful groundswell and excellent for experienced surfers, but beginners will want to sit this one out as it’s over 5 ft. Saturday afternoon cleans up even more, with the wind dropping to a light breeze from the SSW and the energy ramping up to 3518. Still cross-off, still clean. That morning session is the standout of the weekend.

Sunday morning, 12 July, the swell holds at 10 ft SW, 14 seconds, but the wind swings cross-shore from the SW at 9 mph, bringing a little cross-chop. The energy climbs to 5800 (strong), but the quality drops a touch. By Sunday afternoon, the swell bumps up to 12 ft SW with a very long 18-second period, and the energy jumps to 8796 (very strong). The wind is still cross-shore, but the period is so long that this will be a bit tricky on a reef – those big, long lines will be better for the points, but still a hell of a show for strong surfers.

Monday, 13 July, continues with similar 12 ft SW swell, 16-second period, but the wind stays cross-shore, keeping a slight ripple on the surface. The energy is still strong (6786 in the morning). It’s still surfable for the experienced, but not as clean as the weekend.

Tuesday, 14 July, is a real treat. Morning is glassy, with a light NNE breeze and clear skies. The swell is 10 ft SW at 15 seconds, and the energy is 4223 (strong). That’s the kind of morning you get out of bed early for – clean, smooth, and powerful. The afternoon is just as good, with glassy conditions and a light WNW wind. That Tuesday morning is another true standout.

Then we hit a rough patch. Wednesday, 15 July, the wind picks up hard from the north, 19 mph cross-on, and the swell drops to 7 ft SW. The energy is still strong (3224), but the wind is ruining it. By Wednesday afternoon, it’s onshore at 12 mph from the NW, and the swell is back to 10 ft SW, but the quality is poor. Thursday, 16 July, is worse – strong cross-on winds from the NNW at 19 mph, and the swell builds to 12 ft WSW, but it’s messy. Thursday afternoon has a strong breeze from the NNW at 28 mph and light rain. The energy is 7086, but it’s blown out. Friday, 17 July, is no better – strong winds from the WNW, 28 mph, with a 6 ft SW swell. The energy is 1659, but it’s a write-off. This is a solid 4-5 day stretch of poor conditions.

Saturday, 18 July, brings a massive spike. The morning session has a 16 ft SW swell at 17 seconds, with a strong breeze from the SW at 28 mph, cross-shore. The energy is a whopping 15969 (very strong). The file says it’s too big for this break, and honestly, it’s only for experts with a death wish. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a cross-off SW wind at 19 mph, but the swell is still 16 ft and the energy is 14901. That’s a big, dangerous day.

Sunday, 19 July, the swell drops to 12 ft SW, 14 seconds, but the wind is cross-on from the west at 9 mph, and the energy is 5429. It’s a bit lumpy. Monday, 20 July, fades further – 6 ft SW, 12 seconds, cross-on wind, and the energy is only 1025 (weak). The rest of the week into 26 July is a mix of onshore winds, lumpy conditions, and poor surf, with only a few marginal windows. The best of the whole run is Saturday morning, 11 July, and Tuesday morning, 14 July.

Rusty.

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