5th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. 5th Street is the only place we’re looking at for this forecast, and honestly, it’s going to be a long, slow grind. We’re looking at a solid stretch of poor conditions right through the second week of July, with a glimmer of something a bit more rideable towards the end.

The first week is pretty much a write-off. From Wednesday the 15th right through to Monday the 20th, we’re staring down tiny, weak swell with poor winds. The combined wave energy is stuck in the low double digits, barely cracking 20 (24) most days, and the swell direction is all over the place from the south. The wind is mostly cross or cross-off, but with swell heights barely pushing 2 ft, you’d be fighting for nothing. Thursday the 16th afternoon gets a bit of a cross-off breeze, but the swell period is a pathetic 3 seconds—just messy wind chop. Saturday the 18th morning has heavy rain and a cross-on wind, forget it. Not a single session worth paddling out for.

We finally see a bit of life on Tuesday the 21st. The morning swell picks up to about 4 ft from the south, with a period of 7 seconds, and the wind turns light cross-off from the west. The energy jumps to 132, which is still weak, but we’re talking surfable waves, just very ordinary conditions. The afternoon is even cleaner with a light breeze, and the same 4 ft. It’s not going to be a standout, but it’s the first window where you might actually catch a couple of weak, crumbly ones. Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd drop right back down again, so that Tuesday window is your only hope in that first week.

Moving into the second week, the energy picks up a bit, but the wind stays messy. Friday the 24th morning has a 4 ft easterly swell, but it’s cross-on and choppy, making it a tough paddle. Saturday the 25th is similar, with a 4 ft swell from the east-southeast, but again, cross-on wind.

Now, here’s the one true standout for the whole outlook. Sunday the 26th of July. The morning brings a 4 ft swell from the south-southeast, with a 7-second period, and here’s the key: offshore wind from the west-northwest, described as a gentle offshore and clean. The combined energy jumps to 240, which is still only moderate, but the wind is totally glassy. The afternoon holds the same: 4 ft, offshore, clean. That’s your session. It’s not a bomb, but with those conditions, 5th Street will be as clean as it gets. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th see the swell holding around 3 ft, but the wind goes cross or cross-off again, keeping it ordinary. The best of the rest is Tuesday morning with a light cross-off breeze and 3 ft, but it’s no match for Sunday.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a dud. Tuesday the 21st is a minor, very ordinary option. The big call is Sunday the 26th of July. It’s the only day with offshore wind and clean conditions, and the swell is just enough to make it fun. The rest of the time, the wind is either cross, onshore, or the swell is tiny. Don’t expect much else.

Rusty.

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