Irmas/Leftpoint Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down. I’m Rusty, and I’ve looked over the forecast for this spot. The only break that’s even in the conversation is Irmas/Leftpoint, a reef that’s pretty consistent, but the whole 16 days is a rough stretch for any decent surf. The first few days are a total no-go.

The first call is for Thursday, July 16th. The water is 26°, which is standard for this time of year. The swell is a weak 2ft from the SSW, with a combined energy of 402, which is moderate. The wind is a side-shore from the ENE at 15 mph, kicking up a chop. It’s labeled poor, so don’t bother.

The following days, Friday the 17th through Sunday the 19th, are all the same story. Side-shore winds from the ENE at 18-22 mph, with lumpy cross-chop and swell heights of 4ft to 6ft, mostly from the ENE. The period is short, around 7 seconds, so it’s all wind-slop. The combined energy climbs into the 400s and 500s, but it’s messy. Poor.

Then Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st, the swell direction shifts to the S, with a long period of 14-16 seconds, which is groundswell. But the heights are only 3ft to 3ft, and the wind is still a side-shore from the ENE at 15-18 mph. The energy is moderate (490-513), but it’s still poor. The longer period should give it some shape, but the cross-chop ruins it.

Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd see the energy spike to strong levels, 950-958, but the swell is tiny – 2ft to 2ft from the SSW with a very long period of 20-23 seconds. That’s a nice groundswell for a reef, but the wind is a fresh side-shore at 18-22 mph, making it messy. Still poor.

The real action, if you want to call it that, comes Friday the 24th of July through Sunday the 26th of July. The swell jumps to 7ft to 8ft on the 24th and 25th, all from the ENE, with a short period of 7-8 seconds. The wind is howling at 22-25 mph from the ENE, and the combined energy is massive – 1607 to 1923. That’s strong, but it’s a howling, messy onshore wind with cross-chop. At that size, it’s only for experts, and even then, the wind is a killer. For a beach break, this would be a kite-surfing dream, but for a reef, it’s a nightmare.

The only window that looks half-decent is Monday the 27th of July and Tuesday the 28th of July. The swell is still 5ft to 7ft, but now from the E and ENE, with a period of 13-16 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The combined energy is still strong at 1853 to 2296. The wind drops to a moderate 12-15 mph from the NE or ENE, and it’s a side-shore, so there’s still a cross-chop, but it’s not as wild. The wave comment lifts to “marginal,” with scores of 1 or 2. This is your best bet. The swell direction is close to the ideal ESE, so the reef should work. The wind isn’t offshore, but it’s not onshore either. For a surfer who’s willing to put up with the chop, this is the time to paddle out.

After that, Wednesday the 29th of July and Thursday the 30th of July, the swell drops and the wind turns more cross-on, making it choppy and poor again. Friday the 31st of July is back to fresh side-shore winds and small swell. So, the whole 16 days is a lean stretch, with only a couple of days on the 27th and 28th that might give you a few turns if you’re lucky.

Rusty.

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