Irmas/Leftpoint Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook for Irmas/Leftpoint is a tough one. We’ve got a 16-day window, but honestly, it’s a long wait for anything decent. The surf just isn’t cooperating for a while. The first recommendation comes in on Wednesday afternoon, July 22nd, but it’s a total write-off. The water temperature is sitting at 80°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a real struggle. On Wednesday afternoon, July 22nd, we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW but with a fresh ENE cross-shore wind at 22 mph, it’s just lumpy and messy. The combined wave energy is weak at 990. No surfing to be had there. Thursday and Friday, July 23rd and 24th, see a jump in height to 7ft - 8ft from the ENE, but the period is a short 7 seconds, and the wind is a strong cross or cross-onshore at 25 mph. The conditions are described as "poor" and "messy" – definitely not worth paddling out. The energy is moderate, around 1093 on Thursday morning, but the quality is just not there.

The weekend of July 25th-26th offers a glimmer of change. Saturday morning still has that lumpy 7ft ENE swell, but by Saturday afternoon, we see a shift to a 3ft swell from the SSW with a very long 18-second period. The energy bumps up to 1178. That long period groundswell at a reef point like this could be interesting, but it’s still cross-shore wind at 22 mph. It’s marginal. Sunday morning through Monday, July 27th, has similar 4ft - 5ft swells from the E and ESE, but the wind is a constant cross-shore. The energy is building to 1431, but the conditions are only "marginal" at best.

The real potential, and I mean the only standout in this whole forecast, shapes up for Tuesday, July 28th, into Wednesday, July 29th. On Tuesday morning, we get a 7ft swell from the ENE with a solid 13-second period. The energy is strong at 1697. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, but it’s cleaner. By Tuesday afternoon, the swell jumps to 8ft from the same direction, the period holds at 13 seconds, and the energy rockets to 2215. That’s some serious power. The wind is fresh cross-shore though, so it’s still lumpy. But here’s the kicker – Wednesday afternoon, July 29th, the wind shifts to a light cross-offshore from the NNE at 16 mph. The swell is 7ft from the ENE with an 11-second period, and the energy is 1431. Conditions are described as "clean." That’s the best window. For intermediate surfers, this is going to be a proper session. The swell is over 5ft, so beginners might find it a bit much, but for the rest of you, that’s a solid wave with clean lines. The ENE direction is right on the money for this reef.

After that, it fades fast. Thursday, July 30th, drops to 6ft from the NE, but the wind swings onshore from the south, and the energy drops. The rest of the first week of August is a mix of poor, choppy conditions with short-period windswell, and the energy stays low. There’s a brief spike on Wednesday, August 5th, with an 8ft ENE swell and a 13-second period, and the energy hits 2517, which is very strong. But the wind is a fresh cross-shore, so it’s messy. That’s expert-only territory in those conditions. By Thursday, August 6th, it’s gone.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The best of the entire 16-day window is Wednesday afternoon, July 29th, at Irmas/Leftpoint. That offshore wind and the solid ENE swell will make it a clean, powerful reef wave. It’s the only true standout. Crowds are possible here, but with the conditions being so poor for so long, it might be just the dedicated crew. For the rest of the window, you’re better off waiting for a better forecast.

Rusty.

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