Danger Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got one spot on the radar, and it’s a proper reef slab that’s gonna keep us busy.

The overall pattern is a solid run of south-west groundswell, with a few standout windows of clean, offshore conditions. The first half of the week looks promising, but we’ll have to wade through some windy, messy days before we get to the real gems. There’s a lull around the start of August, but the end of the outlook brings another pulse.

We kick things off on the 21st of July at Danger Reef. It’s a bit of a mixed bag to start. Tuesday afternoon sees a 8ft south-west swell, but the wind is a cross-on S at 6 mph, and the combined swell energy is a strong 1980. It’s surfable, but not the best. The water sits at 59°, which is about average for the time of year.

Now, Wednesday the 22nd is where it starts to get good. The morning brings a clean 6ft SW swell with a 12-second period, and the wind is offshore from the NW at 6 mph. The energy is a solid 1000. This is a proper window for intermediate surfers. The afternoon stays just as good with offshore NW wind at 9 mph, and the swell bumps up to a 13-second period and 1122 energy. Clean lines.

Thursday the 23rd has a bit of a wind issue. The morning is cross-off, but the swell is 7ft from the WSW at 11 seconds. The energy is strong at 1181, but the wind is a gusty 16 mph. The afternoon, however, cleans right up with a light NNE breeze at 6 mph, cross-off, and a 7ft SW swell at 12 seconds. The energy jumps to 2185. That’s the one to aim for.

Friday the 24th is the standout. The morning is glassy. Absolutely glassy. A 10ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period and an enormous 3797 combined energy. The wind is from the ENE at just 3 mph. This is a big, powerful swell for experienced surfers only. It’s over 8ft, so beginners should stay on the beach. The afternoon sees the wind turn cross-on, but the swell remains a solid 10ft.

Saturday the 25th brings onshore winds, with a 7ft and then 7ft SW swell. The energy is still high, but the wind is a drawback. Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are a write-off with strong onshore winds and poor conditions. The swell drops to 5ft-7ft but the wind is messy.

We’ve got a lull from the 28th to the 30th of July, with strong onshore winds and heavy rain. The swell is still there, but the quality is gone. The 30th shows a glimmer of hope with a 5ft SSW swell and light cross-off winds, but it’s a small window.

The 31st of July is the second big standout. Friday morning sees a 8ft SSW swell with a super long 17-second period, and 4264 energy. The wind is light cross-on, but the afternoon turns glassy again with a 8ft SSW swell at 16 seconds and 3489 energy. This is a long-period groundswell, so it’ll be walling up at the reef. Expect clean, powerful waves.

The 1st of August starts well with a clean 6ft SSW swell, but the afternoon gets blown out by a strong S wind. The 2nd and 3rd of August are small and weak, with energy dropping to 132 and 489. The 4th of August is a bust.

But hold on for the 5th of August. Wednesday morning brings a 8ft WSW swell with a 14-second period, a gentle offshore NW wind at 9 mph, and a strong 2890 energy. The afternoon is the same story with a 8ft SW swell and offshore NW wind. That’s a clean, powerful finish to the outlook.

Bottom line: For the first week, aim for the 22nd, the morning of the 24th, and the afternoon of the 31st. The second week, the 5th of August is your best bet. Crowds are often a factor at Danger Reef, so get in early.

Rusty out.

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