Downtowns Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks at Downtowns. We’ve got a solid run of swell coming, but it’s definitely one for the experienced crew.

The overall pattern is a long, drawn-out pulse of SSW groundswell that kicks in from Monday, July 13th and keeps on giving. The early part of the week is clean and fun, but the real meat of it hits from Tuesday the 14th through Wednesday the 15th. That’s your standout window. The water temperature is sitting about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Monday, July 13th starts things off with a tidy 3ft SSW swell rolling in at a long 12 seconds. The combined energy is already pumping at 615 (moderate wave energy). With glassy conditions in the morning and a light offshore breeze in the afternoon, it’s a sweet, clean intro. The swell direction is straight out of the SW, which is exactly what this reef loves.

Tuesday, July 14th is where we go proper. The swell jumps to 6ft on Tuesday morning, with a period stretching to 17 seconds, and the energy skyrockets to 2293 (strong wave energy). It’s glassy early and clean in the afternoon. This is excellent surf, but at that size, it’s a big step up. This is for advanced surfers only. The wind stays light and offshore, so the waves will be holding a nice shape.

Wednesday, July 15th is the peak of the run. We’re looking at 7ft of SSW groundswell on Wednesday morning, with a 16-second period and a massive 2264 energy rating. Again, glassy conditions. This is big, powerful, and clean. It’s also going to be too much for anyone not well-versed in handling a solid reef break. The consistency is “fairly consistent,” so you’ll be busy.

The Thursday, July 16th through the weekend still holds good, clean surf, but the size eases back to a more manageable 4ft to 5ft range. The wind stays mostly cross-offshore, keeping things tidy. The energy drops a bit, but it’s still in the moderate-to-strong range.

Monday, July 20th sees another spike of size, with 7ft of SSW swell, but the wind goes cross-shore, which brings in some bump. The quality drops a notch, and the wave comment flags questionable tide conditions. It’s still big, but not as clean as the earlier swell.

From Tuesday, July 21st onwards, the wind starts to play more games, with more cross-shore and cross-off flows. The swell sticks around in the 4ft to 6ft range, but the conditions get a bit more mixed. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you will likely see a few others out there, especially on the cleaner days.

The standout here is the Tuesday, July 14th to Wednesday, July 15th window. That’s the best of the best. Big, clean, powerful groundswell with glassy mornings. It’s not for beginners, but for the experienced surfer, it’s a dream run at Downtowns.

A couple of points: the long-period swell (over 15 seconds) can sometimes make beach breaks close out, but this is a reef, so it should handle that energy beautifully, offering a much better, more lined-up wave. The combined energy in the 2000+ range is a clear sign of a serious groundswell arriving.

So, get your good board ready, check the tides, and if you’re on the level, you’re in for a treat.

Rusty.

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