Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Looking at the next couple of weeks, we've got a bit of a slow starter, but once it kicks in, there's some serious size on the cards, especially for the experienced crew. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing out of the ordinary there.

We'll kick off at Fourth Beach on Friday, 17th July. It's a slow start with a 5ft southwest swell, but the cross-off wind from the NNW at 16 mph is keeping things clean. The wave energy is moderate (636), and the 13-second period is giving it some shape. It's a marginal call, but the wind is making the most of it. The afternoon cleans up a bit more with a light breeze, the swell drops a touch to 4ft, and the cross-off flow from the NW at 6 mph makes it a decent session. Friday is the only real highlight for the first few days.

Saturday the 18th is a write-off. The wind gets up to 19 mph from the NW, messing with the 3ft swell, and the wave state is poor. Sunday the 19th looks better on paper with a 7ft SW swell, but the wind is all over the place, and the energy is climbing (2165), but the conditions are still marginal, even at 7ft. It's a bit of a wait.

Now, the standout window kicks off on Monday, 20th July. The morning is where it's at. We've got a 8ft swell from the SSW, 13-second period, and the combined energy is strong (1903). The wind is a light NNE breeze at 6 mph, making it cross-off and clean. The wave report is calling it excellent for experienced surfers, and that's the call. At 8ft, it's pushing into expert territory, so beginners give this one a miss.

Tuesday the 21st is a letdown with fresh winds and rain, and the swell gets messy. Wednesday the 22nd sees a massive pulse of 15ft from the SSW, but it's onshore at 19 mph from the south, making it a total mess. The energy is through the roof (12975), but it's unsurfable. This setup is actually more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle session.

The surf cleans up again on Thursday, 23rd July, but it's still a bit rough. The wind settles on Friday, 24th July, with a 6ft SSW swell and a gentle cross-off breeze from the ENE at 9 mph. The morning is clean, and the wave energy is moderate (1258). It's a solid option for the experienced crew.

Saturday the 25th starts clean with a light 5ft SSW swell, but it's small. Sunday, 26th July, is another real standout. The morning has a 6ft SSW swell, 16-second period, and the combined energy is strong (1527). The wind is a gentle cross-off from the NE at 9 mph, making it clean. The wave report is calling it excellent for experienced surfers, and with that long period, it's going to be well-shaped and powerful. This is the best of the week.

The following week (starting 27th July) sees a 8ft SSW swell on Monday morning, but it's cross-shore and a bit lumpy. Tuesday, 28th July, is a good call with a 6ft SSW swell and a cross-off light breeze from the NE at 6 mph. The morning is clean, and the wave energy is moderate (1296). It's a morning mission.

Wednesday, 29th July, is a small day with a 4ft SSW swell, but it's clean and glassy in the morning with a light NNW breeze. A good day for a longboard or a funboard.

The last big standout is on Thursday, 30th July. The morning sees a 7ft SSW swell, 16-second period, and the energy is very strong (3996). The wind is a light cross-off from the NW at 6 mph, making it clean. The report is calling it excellent for experienced surfers. This is a big, powerful, long-period groundswell, so it will be at its best at the point and reef setups, breaking with a bit of a bend. At 7ft, it's for the confident crew.

Friday, 31st July, is also a cracker. The morning has a 6ft SSW swell, 19-second period (very long groundswell), and the energy is very strong (3132). The wind is a gentle offshore from the NNW at 9 mph, making it glassy. This is about as clean as it gets. Again, the long period means it will be a bit straight at the beach, but the offshore wind will hold it up. For the experienced, this is a must-surf. The afternoon gets a bit cross-on. Saturday, 1st August, wraps up with a 6ft SSW swell, but the wind picks up a bit.

Stay safe, and pick your sessions.

Rusty.

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