Irmas/Leftpoint Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s look at what’s coming up for the next two weeks. The only spot on the radar is Irmas/Leftpoint, a reef break that’s fairly consistent and needs a northwest wind to clean up. Water temp is 80°, right around the normal for this time of year.

The first few days are a mixed deal. Monday the 27th starts with a 5-foot easterly swell, but that cross-shore wind from the northeast is going to chop it up. The energy is strong (1441), so there’s plenty of push, but it’s messy. Tuesday the 28th gets a little bigger – 8 feet in the morning, building to 8 feet in the afternoon, both from the east. The wind shifts to a cross-offshore from the north-northeast, which means the face will be clean. The energy is even higher (2094 and 2149), so this is the best window in the near term. The period is 12-13 seconds, so it’s a decent groundswell, but it’s pushing straight from the east, which can be a bit tricky on a reef. Still, for intermediate surfers, Tuesday morning and afternoon are the standout sessions.

From Wednesday the 29th onward, things drop off fast. The wind turns onshore, the swell drops in size and period, and the energy dips to 813. The rest of the week into early August is a write-off – the easterly wind stays strong, keeping the surface lumpy, and the swell is short-period (8 seconds or less) with poor shape. The combined energy stays in the 400-800 range, so it’s weak and messy. This stretch from the 30th of July through to the 9th of August is a long gap of poor conditions. The surf is too blown out and inconsistent for a good ride.

Around the 10th of August, there’s a tiny shift. A 2-foot swell from the south-southwest with a very long 16-second period shows up, but the wind is onshore from the east, and the energy is only 542. It’s marginal at best. The 11th sees a bump to 4-5 feet from the east-northeast, but the period drops to 6 seconds, and the wind is onshore again. The energy is weak (309 and 287). Not worth paddling out for.

So, the honest call: Tuesday the 28th is your best bet. That 8-8 foot east swell with clean cross-offshore wind is the only real highlight. The waves will have enough push for a decent session, but be aware the east direction can make it a bit straight on the reef. After that, it’s a long wait until the second week, and even then, it’s not looking promising. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing during that blown-out stretch.

If you’re keen, hit Tuesday. Otherwise, sit tight and hope the forecasts change.

Rusty.

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