Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Emerald Beach. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with a couple of massive swells early on that might be too much of a good thing, then a long, slow fade into flatness.

First up, we’ve got a solid pulse of energy building into the weekend. The water temp is sitting around 68°F, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year.

The first real action kicks off on Friday, July 17th. Look, the morning is a bit of a write-off with rain showers and a fresh cross-off SSE breeze at 19 mph. The swell is a messy 8ft from the SE with a short 7-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 711. It’s just not coming together. The afternoon is similar, with a 8ft SE swell, still not great.

Saturday, July 18th is where things get interesting, but only for the right crew. The morning brings a solid 10ft swell from the SE, but the wind is howling from the S at 22 mph. The energy is strong (1070). Honestly, this is going to be a beast. The swell is too big for most, and the wind is nasty. The afternoon, however, is a different story. The wind swings to the south at 25 mph, turning offshore. Swell drops to a cleaner 6ft from the E with a much better 11-second period. The energy is moderate (658). This is the standout for the period. That offshore wind is going to groom it, but it’s going to be a battle to get out. That long-period E swell will be looking for a point break setup, and Emerald Beach is a point, so it could be really good if you’re a strong paddler.

Sunday, July 19th is another day for experts only. The swell pumps up to 13ft from the ESE with a 10-second period. The energy is very strong (2930). The wind is a cross-off SSE breeze at 22 mph, so it’s clean, but that’s a massive wave. It stays big all day, with 12ft in the afternoon.

By Monday, July 20th, the swell starts to ease back to a more manageable 8ft from the E, but the wind is still cross-off. The energy is still strong (1316). It’s surfable, but not the peak.

Now, here’s the real gem. Tuesday, July 21st morning. Glassy. The wind goes dead calm, ESE at 3 mph. The swell is a clean 6ft from the E with a 10-second period. The energy is moderate (711). This is the window for the intermediate surfer. Glassy conditions on a point break with a decent E swell? That’s as good as it gets. The crowds are marked as "often", so expect some company.

After Tuesday, the swell drops off fast. The rest of the week and into the next sees a long, slow decline. Wednesday and Thursday the 22nd and 23rd of July see the swell drop below 4ft, and the wind turns onshore, making for poor conditions.

From Friday, July 24th through to the end of the forecast on August 1st, we’re looking at a solid run of tiny surf. Most days are under 3ft, with the odd morning offering a clean but small wave. The energy drops to weak (under 100). There’s a real gap in quality surf from July 22nd right through to the end. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a quiet spell, but it’s what happens.

The best bet is Tuesday morning, July 21st, hands down. That glassy 6ft E swell on a point break is a proper session. The afternoon offshore on Saturday, 18th July, is the one for the experts.

Rusty.

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