Cunns Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a solid window of southwest swell energy coming through, but the wind is going to be a real pain for a lot of it. The first few days are a write-off, but there are a couple of windows that look seriously good, especially for the more experienced crew.

The only spot on the radar is Cunns, a reef break. The water temperature is sitting at 60°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We start off with nothing much. Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are pretty poor. The swell is only waist-high at 4ft, but the wind is messy. Saturday afternoon is a cross-onshore chop, and the combined energy is weak at 453. Sunday morning cleans up a bit with a light offshore from the northwest, but the swell is still small and the conditions are described as poor. Not worth a paddle.

Monday the 27th is a write-off. The wind is howling from the NNW at 22 mph, lumping up the water. The swell drops to 2ft, and it’s a total mess. The combined energy is weak again at 241.

Tuesday the 28th is a bit of a turning point. The swell jumps up to 6ft from the southwest, with a period of 14 seconds and a combined energy of 1505, which is moderate. But the wind is a strong cross-shore, making it lumpy. It’s still marginal. Wednesday the 29th is better. The swell is 8ft out of the southwest, with a 16-second period and a combined energy of 2860, which is strong. The wind goes cross-offshore from the SSE at 12 mph, keeping it clean. This is a decent session for experienced surfers, but it’s big, and the swell direction is straight out of the southwest, which is the optimum for this break. It’s a standout, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Thursday the 30th is the best of the early run. The swell drops to 5ft, still a solid southwest swell, with a 13-second period and a combined energy of 796. The wind is offshore from the east at 6 mph, and the surf is clean. This is a proper window. The waves should be well-shaped, and the paddling will be easier with the longer gaps between sets. The smaller size makes it more accessible. The crowd factor is listed as “sometimes,” so you might have some company, but it’s not a zoo.

Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August are a bit of a letdown. The wind swings back onshore or cross-shore, and the swell hangs around 4ft to 4ft, but it’s choppy and lumpy. The combined energy drops to 397 and 681. Not great.

Sunday the 2nd of August has a bump in swell to 6ft from the WSW, with a 15-second period and a combined energy of 1271, but the wind is cross-on from the NW, so it’s messy.

Monday the 3rd of August is a big one. The swell is a solid 10ft from the southwest, with a 13-second period and a combined energy of 2458, which is strong. The wind is a light cross-shore in the morning, but the size is only for experts. This is a big, powerful wave. The afternoon sees the wind shift to a cross-offshore from the SE at 19 mph, which cleans it up, but it’s still a big, heavy wave. This is a standout for the big-wave crew.

Wednesday the 5th of August is the absolute standout of the whole outlook. The swell is 6ft from the southwest, with a very long 20-second period and a combined energy of 2132, which is strong. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the south, and it’s described as “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a groundswell of the highest quality. The long period means it will draw up and hold a nice shape, especially on this reef. The water will be clean, and the energy is impressive. This is the one you book a sick day for.

The last few days, from Thursday the 6th through Sunday the 9th, are a bit of a mixed bag. The 6th and 7th are killed by strong winds, with the swell dropping to 3ft. The 8th is still windy and messy. Finally, Sunday the 9th of August looks like a nice little finisher. The swell is 4ft, but the wind is offshore from the east at 9 mph, making it clean. The combined energy is a weak 472, but it’s a clean, fun-sized wave to finish the run.

So, to sum it up: Thursday the 30th of July is your best early bet for a clean, manageable session, but Wednesday the 5th of August is the absolute belter, with big, long-period swell and clean conditions. Get on it.

Rusty.

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