Downtowns Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get stuck into what's coming up for Downtowns. This is a solid run of swell, with a few sessions that are going to be absolute crackers if you pick your window right.

We've got a long run of good energy rolling in, starting Thursday morning. The water temp is pretty standard for this time of year, nothing unusual to report. The spot works best with a swell from the southwest, and that's exactly the direction we get most of this surf from.

Let's kick off on Thursday the 16th morning. We're looking at a clean 5ft SSW swell at a very long 15 seconds, with a light SSE breeze keeping it clean. Wave energy is moderate (1305). It's good, but not the standout.

The real first standout comes Friday the 17th. The morning session is magic: 4.3ft of SW swell at 15 seconds, with glassy conditions under a slight 3 mph SSE wind. For a reef break, this is dreamy. The combined energy is strong (1490), and while it's not huge, it's clean and lined up. This is for experienced surfers only given the reef setup, but it'll be worth the paddle.

The weekend is consistent but nothing to lose your head over. Saturday morning has clean 4.6ft SW swell (1236 energy), but it's a little more chopped up by a cross-off wind. Sunday morning is still clean with a 4.3ft swell but the tide and energy are dropping a bit.

The next big moment is Monday the 21st. That morning, the swell jumps up to 6.6ft from the SSW at a very long 17 seconds – combined energy is strong (2447). That's a powerful groundswell. It's clean with a light breeze, but that size and period will make it a heavy, straight-breaking wave at this reef. This is for experts only. If you're not absolutely on your game, sit this one out.

Tuesday the 22nd pushes it even further with a 7.2ft SW swell (2328 energy) in the afternoon, but there's also rain showers around. The morning is the cleaner, safer option at 5.9ft.

After a drop-off in size mid-week, we get another interesting window around Saturday the 26th. The morning brings a 4.3ft SSW swell back, combined energy is moderate (929), but then Sunday the 27th morning throws up a different beast: 6.9ft from the SE with a short period of just 8 seconds. It has decent energy (1232), but that short period windswell won't have the same push or shape as the earlier SW groundswells.

Then, late in the run, on Thursday the 31st of July, the morning looks very promising again. A 6.2ft SW swell with a 20-second period and combined energy of 1540. That's a very long period groundswell, which means clean, powerful lines, but it will tend to break a bit straight, so the take-off will be critical. The wind is light, so it should be clean.

Tuesday the 30th morning also stands out: a 3.3ft SW swell with a 20-second period and energy at 1540. That's a tiny but incredibly long-period wave – almost like a slow-motion freight train.

The best on offer? That Friday morning the 18th is your golden window for a clean, rippable session. Then, if you're an expert, Monday morning the 21st for that powerful, big swell. The very end of the forecast, Thursday the 31st morning, also looks like a top-tier session, but that's a long way out, so treat it as a promising look for now.

There are crowds listed as "sometimes" at Downtowns, so just keep an eye out on the best days.

Stay safe, and I'll catch you in the lineup.

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