Irmas/Leftpoint Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming down the line for us.

Honestly, looking at the next couple of weeks, it's a bit of a slow burn. We're looking at a long stretch of pretty average conditions before things really fire up. The first week or so is mostly a write-off, with messy cross-shore winds and lumpy surf. The standout action is definitely saved for the very end of the forecast, and it's a doozy, but it's a long way off.

Right now, for Irmas/Leftpoint, the pattern is pretty grim. Saturday the 18th kicks off with a strong ENE breeze at 25 mph, whipping up a 8 ft cross-shore chop. The combined energy is moderate (644), but the wind is just ruining it. It's the same story through the weekend and into the next week. The swell does drop right down to 2 ft and 3 ft mid-week, with some long-period energy from the South (16-24 seconds), but with that persistent cross-shore wind, it's just not going to be clean. The combined energy stays moderate, hitting 1002 on the 22nd, but it's all for nothing with the wind.

Thursday the 23rd is just more of the same – strong breeze and messy conditions. It's not until the tail end of July that we see any light. The 24th and 25th are still poor, with the swell jumping back up to 7-8 ft but the wind is still a fresh cross-shore mess. The energy is starting to build though, hitting 1365 on the 24th. The weekend of the 26th and 27th sees the swell start to get some real grunt, with 5 ft to 7 ft of E swell at a very long period of 15-16 seconds. The energy is getting strong (up to 2431), but that cross-shore wind is still a problem, keeping the surf in the "marginal" category.

Now, keep your eyes on the prize. The real action is locked in for Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th of July. This is the one to circle. On Wednesday the 29th morning, the swell is already a solid 13 ft from the East with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 7407. The wind is a moderate 16 mph, but it's a cross-shore. Then, Wednesday afternoon is where it gets interesting. The swell jumps to a huge 20 ft from the ENE (14 seconds) and the energy skyrockets to 14147. The wind swings to a light NNE breeze at 16 mph, which is actually a cross-offshore wind. That means clean conditions. This is a serious, expert-only wave. If you're not experienced, stay well clear.

Then Thursday the 30th morning is the absolute peak. The swell drops a touch to 12 ft from the ENE, but the period shortens to 10 seconds. The energy is still very strong at 3418. The real beauty is the wind: a light NNE breeze at just 6 mph, also cross-offshore. The report says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers". This is your window. It's going to be a heavy, powerful reef break, but with clean conditions. The water temp is a normal 80° for this time of year, so no surprises there.

After that, it all falls apart again. The wind picks up on the 31st and we're back to messy, weak, short-period surf. The last few days of the first week of August look like a total write-off with tiny, weak swell and strong cross-shore winds.

So, to sum it up: the first two weeks are a washout. Don't bother. The one and only standout is Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th of July at Irmas/Leftpoint. Thursday morning is the best bet for clean, powerful waves, but it's strictly for the experienced crew. The rest of the time, it's a long wait.

Rusty.

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