Higgins Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m lookin’ at the next couple of weeks for Higgins Beach. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, and I gotta be straight with you – there’s a lot of flat or poor conditions to wade through, but there’s two real bright spots if you’re patient.

First off, the water temp is sitting at 65°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a nice little bonus if you’re skipping the wetsuit.

The early part of the forecast is pretty grim. Saturday afternoon, the 18th, has a 5ft swell from the S, but with a 19 mph cross-onshore wind and a weak period of 6 seconds, the combined energy is only 158 (moderate) and the conditions are just lumpy. It’s a no-go. Sunday the 19th morning cleans up a bit with offshore winds, but the swell drops to 3ft. It’s surfable, but ordinary. Sunday afternoon gets even smaller. Monday and Tuesday are a write-off with tiny waves and poor winds.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday, the 22nd of July, is a standout. The swell jumps up to 8ft on the morning and 7ft in the afternoon from the SSE. The combined energy is massive – 1001 in the morning and 650 in the afternoon, which is strong to very strong. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s not a super long groundswell, but it’s got plenty of push. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, but the forecast notes say the swell might be too big for this break. This is expert territory; anything over 8ft is for the experienced crew only. Beginners should sit this one out.

The next little window is Friday the 24th of July. Morning has a clean 4ft from the SE with a period of 8 seconds, combined energy of 252 (moderate), and the wind is glassy – ENE at 3 mph. That’s a major positive; it’ll be clean and smooth. This is the best of the smaller days, and it’s a good option for intermediate surfers. But the afternoon turns back to a cross-onshore breeze, so get in early.

The rest of the period through to the 2nd of August is a frustrating slog. The swell stays tiny, mostly under 3ft, with poor winds and onshore conditions. There are a few glassy moments on the 26th morning and the 2nd of August morning, but the waves are just too small to get excited about. The combined energy dips into the double digits at times (weak).

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is Wednesday, the 22nd of July for the experts who want a big, powerful swell, and Friday morning, the 24th of July for the cleanest, most user-friendly surf of the whole run. The rest of the time, you’re fighting small, choppy, or blown-out conditions. Expect a long gap of poor surf from the 26th through to the 2nd of August.

Keep your eyes on the ocean, and I’ll see you out there.

Rusty

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