Hennemans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s see what’s cooking. The forecast starts off average, but it’s a slow burn. The first few days have some swell, but the conditions are holding it back.

We kick off on Saturday, 25 July, with a southwest swell at Hennemans. It’s a reef break, exposed to the west. The swell is 3ft with a period of 21 seconds – that’s a very long-period groundswell, so it’s got proper juice, but those long-period swells can be a bit fiddly on a reef. The combined energy is moderate (604). The wind is a light southwesterly, blowing onshore, and the water is a warm 73°, which is 6° warmer than usual for this time of year – very unusual. The surf is marginal, so it’s hard to get too pumped.

Sunday, 26 July, the swell picks up to 3ft, still from the southwest, with a period around 18-19 seconds. The winds are light, but they’re cross-onshore, leaving a bit of chop. The energy is moderate (840 and 707). Still looks marginal.

Monday, 27 July, the swell holds at 3ft to 4ft, and the period drops a touch to 16-18 seconds. The morning has a gentle cross-onshore breeze, making it a bit choppy. The energy is getting up there (1003). Still, the forecast points to marginal conditions.

Tuesday, 28 July, is the true standout. The morning swell hits 4ft from the southwest, with a 17-second period (long-period groundswell). The wind is light and onshore, and the combined energy is strong (1055). This is the best of the run. The afternoon is similar, with energy at 1001. For an intermediate-level reef break, this is the time to get out there. The water is still that very warm anomaly.

From Wednesday, 29 July, the swell starts to drop. The winds stay cross-onshore, and the conditions turn more choppy. By Thursday, 30 July, the swell is 5ft to 5ft, but the period shortens to 14 seconds, and the energy is still moderate (873-1001). The wind is light onshore, so it’s a bit cleaner, but still marginal.

Friday, 31 July, has a 5ft to 6ft southwest swell, with a period of 13 seconds. The wind is light cross-onshore. The energy is strong (1058) in the morning, but the quality is still poor. This is getting into the size where it’s only for experts, and the short period means it’ll be a bit softer.

Then, from Saturday, 1 August, it’s all downhill. The swell drops to 5ft, then 4ft, with a period of 12 seconds. The energy drops to 629 and then 538. The winds are light cross-onshore, but the surf is just marginal.

From Sunday, 2 August, right through to the end of the forecast on Sunday, 9 August, the surf is poor. The swell size drops to 3ft and then to 1ft or 2ft, with periods ranging from 10 to 16 seconds. The energy is weak (144 to 252). The winds are light, but the conditions are consistently poor. There’s a long gap of poor surf from the 2nd of August all the way through.

So, the only real standout is Tuesday, 28 July, with that 4ft southwest swell, a long period, and strong energy. Get in the water then. The rest of the run is slim pickings.

Rusty.

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