Emma Wood State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what we’ve got coming up for the next couple of weeks. To be honest, this is a bit of a flat spell we’re walking into. There’s barely anything to get excited about, and the first real suggestion of surfable waves doesn’t even show up until the end of July. You’re looking at a gap of several days with nothing worthwhile on offer before we even get to the first recommendation.

The first day we can even talk about is Friday the 31st of July, down at Emma Wood State Beach. It’s a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed to the swell. We’re looking at a small 3ft swell coming from the south, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, but it’s not got much push. The combined energy is moderate, sitting around 438 in the morning. Early doors on Friday there’s a light onshore breeze from the southwest, which is a bit of a pity – keeps things a touch bumpy. The water temperature is a whopping 70°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so you won’t need the thick rubber. Friday morning is the only time in this whole outlook that even gets a score of 1 out of 10. That’s not a standout, that’s just the best of a poor bunch.

By the afternoon on Friday, the wind picks up a notch and swings cross-on, the same 3ft swell, and it starts getting choppy. The rest of the forecast just slides downhill from there. From the 1st of August onwards, the swell drops below 3ft, the period shortens up, and the winds stay cross-onshore most of the time. The combined energy sinks into the weak range – you’ll see numbers like 86 and 43 in the first few days of August. That’s barely enough to wrinkle the surface. There’s a tiny blip on the 7th of August when the energy climbs back to 198, but with a 1ft swell and 19-second period, it’s going to be too weak and the sets will be few and far between. Not one for the beginner, because there’s just no power behind it, and it’s too weak for most experienced surfers too.

Honestly, if you’re wanting to paddle surf, this 16-day stretch is a write-off. Some spots just go through quiet runs like this, and it looks like this is one of them. The winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, the swells are tiny, and the only energy we see is fleeting. Could still be interesting for a kite session if the breeze stays up, but for a surfboard, you’re better off waiting for the next change in the charts.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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