4 Mile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright everybody, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for our region over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got one main spot on the menu: 4 Mile. This is a point break, exposed to the west, and it’s a fairly consistent wave for the advanced crew. The water temperature is sitting about average for the time of year, so nothing weird going on there.

The issue is that for the first few days, the wind is a bit of a pain. From Friday the 24th right through the weekend and into the start of the next week, we’ve got a moderate to fresh cross-shore breeze – mostly out of the NW – that’s putting a lumpy cross-chop on the face. The swell is hanging around 2 ft to 4 ft from the SSW, with a very long period of 18 to 24 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and the energy is moderate (around 809 to 1364). The long period means the waves will have plenty of push and shape, but at a beach or a point, those long gaps between sets can make it feel slow. The wind is the main spoiler here, making it hard to get a clean face. The conditions are described as marginal, and the tide is a factor too. It’s not a total write-off, but it’s not a standout.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th see the swell bump up a touch to 4 ft, and the energy is getting stronger (over 1000), but that NW wind is still cross and fresh in the afternoons. The mornings are a bit better with a moderate breeze, but still cross-shore. It’s still a bit of a battle.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. From around the 30th of July, the swell drops back to 3 ft, and the wind stays cross or cross-on. The period drops to 15-16 seconds, so the quality eases off. The energy is still moderate but lower.

Now, the standout moment... and it’s a promising one, but it’s a long way out. Saturday the 1st of August is the best on offer. The swell picks up to 6 ft in the morning, and 7 ft in the afternoon, from the WNW. The period is short, around 9 seconds, so it’s a wind swell, but it’s got some size. The combined energy is strong (1328 in the morning, 1269 in the afternoon). The wind is a gentle cross-onshore in the morning, and a moderate cross-shore in the afternoon. It’s still a bit messy, but it’s the biggest and most energetic day of the whole run. For the advanced crew, this is your window. 7 ft is plenty of juice, and with the short period, it’ll be a bit lumpy, but there’ll be waves. After that, things drop off again into the 7th and 8th of August, with poor conditions and small swell.

So, the honest truth is: there’s no perfect, clean, glassy day in the next 16 days. The wind is the main issue. The best bet is to keep an eye on Saturday the 1st of August for the most size and energy, and hope the wind eases off a little. Otherwise, it’s a bit of a grind.

Rusty.

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