Higgins Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day window for Higgins Beach is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak, and messy surf, with a couple of days that might just be worth a paddle if you’re desperate.

The water is sitting at 65°, which is about 2° warmer than usual for this time of year. Feels pretty good, but the waves are a different story.

The entire first week is a write-off. From Saturday 18th July right through to Tuesday 21st, it’s all small, choppy, and crossed-up. The swell energy is barely a whisper, with readings from 11 up to 91 (weak energy). Winds are mostly cross-on or cross-shore, making a mess of whatever tiny bumps are out there. You’re looking at ankle-biters with no push.

We finally get a pulse of energy on Wednesday 22nd July. The swell bumps up to 6ft in the morning and 7ft in the afternoon from the SSE, with the combined energy hitting 390 and then 970 (moderate to strong). The period is short at 7-8 seconds though, so it’s a messy windswell. The wind is a fresh cross-on from the SSW, which is going to chop it up real bad. The forecast calls it “poor surf conditions” – and it is. The swell is almost too big for beginners, but the quality is so poor it’s only really for the keenest of experts looking for a punishing session.

Thursday 23rd July is the best of a bad bunch, but it’s still nothing to write home about. The swell drops to 4ft in the morning from the SSE, period stretches to 9 seconds, and the energy is moderate at 251. The wind shifts to a cross-off from the SW, cleaning things up. The afternoon is similar, 4ft, clean. The forecast says “marginal” and “surfable but very ordinary.” It’s the only real window for a wave, but it’s not a standout. The break is consistent, but crowds are often, so don’t expect solitude.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. From Friday 24th July all the way through to Sunday 2nd August, we’re back to tiny waves, poor energy, and mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds. The swell barely gets above 3ft, and the energy readings are all below 100 (weak). There’s a glimmer of promise on the morning of Wednesday 29th July with a clean 2ft wave from the SE and a 9-second period, but it’s tiny. A glassy morning on the 30th July is a tease, but the swell is only 2ft.

The long-range look at the weekend of 1st and 2nd August is more of the same – small, onshore, and weak. The 2nd August afternoon sees a 5ft swell from the SSE with moderate energy (182), but it’s a short period windswell (6 seconds) with onshore wind. It’s promising for the fact it’s bigger, but it’s a long way out and the details are very uncertain.

Honestly, if you’ve got a kite, the stronger winds on Wednesday 22nd and the 2nd August might be more interesting than a surfboard. For the rest of us, keep your expectations on the floor. The best bet is the morning of Thursday 23rd July, but it’s a “maybe” session, not a “must-go.”

Rusty.

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