East Runton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you – this forecast is a tough one. We’ve got a solid 16-day window, but the surf is looking pretty grim across the board. The first real chance to even talk about waves doesn’t show up until Saturday, July 26th, and even then, it’s a slim pickin’s situation. Before that, we’re staring at a long stretch of poor conditions with messy, cross-onshore winds and waves that just aren’t cooperating.

Let’s start with the one spot we’ve got: East Runton. It’s a beginner-friendly beach break, fairly consistent, but that’s about the only positive. The water is a very unusual 65°F right now, which is much warmer than normal for the time of year, but that won’t help the waves.

The whole first week is a write-off. From Friday, July 17th, right through to Friday, July 24th, the wind is howling from the north and north-northwest, creating choppy, lumpy, and messy conditions. The swell is there, peaking on Sunday, July 19th, with a 6ft north swell and a period of 8 seconds, but with a fresh cross-onshore wind, it’s just a bumpy, blown-out mess. The energy hits 432 (moderate) that day, but it’s wasted. It’s too big for beginners anyway, and the quality is just poor.

We get a little window on Monday, July 20th afternoon, with a lighter onshore breeze and a 3ft north swell, but it’s still not clean. By Tuesday, July 21st, the swell drops to 2ft and the energy is weak (37). The whole week is a ‘poor surf conditions’ situation.

The only glimmer of hope, and I mean a tiny glimmer, comes on Saturday, July 25th, in the morning. We get a clean, cross-offshore wind from the west-southwest, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft from the northwest with a short period of 4 seconds. The energy is a measly 15. It’s a clean, flat, weak little wave. Then Sunday the 26th is even smaller, with 1.0ft and 4 seconds of period. The rest of the outlook into the first week of August is flat or tiny, with weak energy and messy winds.

So, what’s the standout? Honestly, there isn’t one. The best possible session is that Saturday, July 25th morning at East Runton, but only if you’re desperate for a paddle and have a longboard. The wind is clean, but the swell is so small it’s barely rideable. The rest of the time, it’s either too windy, too small, or both. The setup is more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer on those bigger, windier days. It’s a lean run, folks. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game. Keep the board waxed, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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