Irmas/Leftpoint Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – Irmas/Leftpoint is the only spot on the menu for the next 16 days, and it’s a tough pill to swallow. The whole outlook is a bit of a grind, with a long stretch of poor conditions. The water’s sitting at 79°, which is about normal for the time of year, but that’s about the only thing that’s average.

We start off with a real dud. From Monday the 13th right through to the 22nd of July, it’s mostly cross-shore and cross-onshore winds, blowing 9 to 22 mph, and the swell is a mess – short-period, lumpy, and choppy. There’s a couple of days where a long-period 16-second swell rolls in, but it’s tiny and the wind is still junk. Honestly, it’s not worth paddling out for anything better than a frustrating session.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday the 22nd of July. The swell picks up to 5 ft from the ENE, but the wind is still cross-shore from the NE at 16 mph. The combined energy hits 672 (moderate), and the wave comment says “marginal” – it’s a maybe, but you’d be fighting a bumpy surface.

Then, the real standout is on Monday the 27th of July. This is the one to circle. We’ve got a 4 ft to 4 ft swell from the east, but the period jumps to 15 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is 971-1018 (moderate to strong). The wind is a moderate cross-shore from the NE at 12 mph, which is workable. Best of all, it’s a reef break, and that long period will wrap in nicely, giving it some shape. It’s a point break setup, so it should handle the long period better than a beach. It’s still a “marginal” call, but this is the best the whole outlook has to offer.

The very last day, Tuesday the 28th of July, also looks promising. Swell hits 7 ft from the ENE, with a 13-second period and combined energy of 1684 (strong). That’s a solid wave, but it’s getting sizable – might be pushing it for beginners. The cross-shore wind at 16 mph is still a factor, but if you’re an experienced surfer, this could be a blast.

Crowds can be an issue here – it’s “sometimes” busy, so you might have some company on those better days. The optimum swell direction is ESE, and the bigger swells are coming from the ENE, so it’s close but not a perfect match.

So, to sum it up: the first week and a half is a write-off. The 27th and 28th of July are your best bets. The 27th is the standout for me – cleaner, long-period groundswell, and moderate energy. The 28th is bigger, but a bit messier. Get out there if you can, but be patient.

Rusty.

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