Johanna Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s ahead for our stretch of coast.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a waiting game on our hands. The first half of this week is messy, with big, unruly swell and onshore winds making a mess of things. The real standout window is a solid week and a half away, but it’s worth the patience.

Monday, July 20th kicks things off with a pulse of southwest groundswell. Johanna is seeing a 7ft swell from the WSW at a very long 16 seconds, but it’s a cross-off breeze and the conditions are described as marginal. The water’s sitting at 59°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate (1963). By afternoon, the swell drops to 5ft, but the quality is still only fair for experienced surfers.

Tuesday, July 21st sees the swell bump up to 8ft from the WSW, period dropping to 13 seconds. Still a cross-off breeze, but the energy is ramping up (2587). Again, marginal in the morning, better for the experienced crew in the afternoon. This is getting into the “too big for beginners” range.

Wednesday, July 22nd morning is a mix – 7ft from the west, but the period has dropped right off to a weak 8 seconds, so the shape won’t be great. The wind holds cross-off. But by afternoon, the wind swings to the SW and it gets ugly. 12ft, cross-on, and the quality goes to zero. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a surfing one.

Thursday, July 23rd and Friday, July 24th are a write-off. We’re talking big, raw swell (15ft to 18ft) from the SW, with fresh to strong cross-onshore winds. The energy numbers are through the roof (9502 to 15675), but it’s massive and lumpy. Only for the absolute lunatics, and even then, it’s a “no thanks” from me.

Saturday, July 25th and Sunday, July 26th are still dominated by leftover energy – 16ft dropping to 8ft – but the wind stays messy. Cross-onshore and cross-shore conditions keep it poor. Not worth paddling out.

Monday, July 27th is a glimmer. The swell is a solid 13ft from the WSW with a clean 11-second period, and the wind is cross-off from the NW. The energy is strong (3780). This is an excellent day for experienced surfers. The crowd factor at Johanna can be an issue, but you’ll be sharing it with folk who know what they’re doing.

Tuesday, July 28th goes back to the dark side. Strong onshore winds and 13ft to 15ft swell. Rubbish.

Wednesday, July 29th and Thursday, July 30th – Okay, here’s the big one. A massive, long-period SSW groundswell is forecast. On Wednesday, we’re looking at 18ft to 20ft with a 16 to 17 second period. The energy is extreme (38999). The wind is onshore, but the notes say wind and tide are favorable... for a break this size. Honestly, this is a monster. It’s only for the absolute top-tier experts. The same goes for Thursday, with 16ft to 15ft and a 15-16 second period. The energy is still huge (12302). This is a true, gnarly groundswell event.

Friday, July 31st and Saturday, August 1st The swell starts to back off, dropping to 12ft and then 10ft. Wind is light and variable. Still a bit of power, but the conditions are only marginal.

Sunday, August 2nd – This is the standout. The best of the entire outlook. We’ve got a 15ft swell from the SW at 15 seconds, with a light offshore NNE breeze. The energy is strong (8894). By afternoon, the wind goes glassy. The report says “exceptional conditions for expert surfers.” This is the one you circle on the calendar. Clean, powerful, and the wind is perfect. The crowds will be likely, but for a wave this good, you’ll be looking for a peak.

Monday, August 3rd and Tuesday, August 4th The swell continues to drop (10ft to 7ft), but the wind stays clean, offshore, or glassy. A great run of clean, fun waves for the intermediate crew and above. The energy is moderate (1191 to 1830).

So, to wrap it up: The next week is a write-off. Don’t bother. The first real standout is Monday, July 27th for the experienced crew. But the absolute gem is Sunday, August 2nd – that’s the one with the clean, offshore winds and a proper groundswell. It’s a long way out, so the forecast might shift, but right now, that’s your best bet.

Stay salty,
Rusty.

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