Hunting Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s chew the fat on what’s coming down the pipe. Gotta be real with you: it’s a quiet stretch. The first week and a half are pretty much a bust for any real surfing. We’re looking at a long gap from now until the weekend of the 18th of July where the surf is just too small and weak to bother with. For the first many days, we’re talking tiny waves – mostly around 1 ft to 3 ft – with short periods and low energy. The combined swell energy is weak, reading values like 28, 34, 71 – all under 100. That’s flat water energy.

You might see a little bump on the afternoon of Friday the 10th of July, with a 4 ft south swell, but it’s got a period of just 5 seconds. That’s short-period windswell, so it’ll be jumbled and weak, with energy only at 96. Not worth the drive. The wind is mostly cross or cross-off, but the wave quality is marked as poor. There’s a small window on Sunday morning, the 12th of July, where we get a true offshore wind from the west at 9 mph, making for clean conditions. But again, the swell is only 2 ft from the southeast with a period of 8 seconds. It’s a long shot.

Now, around the 18th of July – that Saturday morning – we see a real shift. The swell picks up to 4 ft from the south with a period of 6 seconds. The combined swell energy jumps to 139 – that’s moderate. The wind will be light and cross-off at 9 mph from the southwest, so conditions will be clean. This is the standout window. That Saturday morning at Hunting Island is hands down the best on offer. For a beginner-friendly spot, that 4 ft south swell with clean, glassy conditions is as good as it gets in this run. It’s not big, but after a week and a half of nothing, it’s a welcome sight. Just keep in mind those short periods mean the waves will be crumbly and a bit soft, not punchy.

Sunday the 19th of July morning still has some 4 ft south swell, but the combined energy drops to 109, and it’s not as crisp. Still surfable, but the Saturday is the one to aim for. And on Monday the 20th of July morning, we’re back down to 3 ft from the south-southeast.

So, to sum it up: a long dry spell, then a brief but welcome pulse on the weekend of the 18th. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Don’t expect any barrels, just small, clean, fun little waves for the beginners and longboarders. If you’re a kiter, those afternoons with fresh cross-shore wind and weak swell might actually look more interesting than the surf.

Keep your eyes on the charts, but for now, that Saturday morning of the 18th of July is your best bet.

- Rusty

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