Johanna Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's get into it.

Alright, look, if you're after a paddle, this is a window that's going to test your hunger. The big picture is a massive run of west and southwest swell that's just too damn big for a good chunk of the first week, with a lot of wind in the mix. But don't write it off—there's a real gem hidden in the second week that's worth the wait.

The first option isn't really an option at all. This Sunday, the 12th, we've got a wild 20ft swell from the west with a fresh to strong breeze on it. The combined wave energy is massive (10860), but it's a total mess. Forget about it for a paddle—this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Monday the 13th, the swell builds even more—21ft to 23ft from the west-southwest. The energy is through the roof (19833), and it's actually clean Monday morning with a light offshore. But even then, the forecast says it's simply too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it's a monster. Monday afternoon gets messy again.

Now, from Tuesday the 14th through to the 20th, we're in a holding pattern. The swell drops, but it's never quite right. The wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, the energy is moderate (between 1396 and 5524), and the conditions are lumpy, choppy, or marginal. The waves are in the 6ft to 11ft range, but the quality is just not there. There are a few glimmers—Thursday the 16th morning has a clean 8ft swell with light offshore winds, and Friday the 17th morning is special: 11ft from the southwest with a very long period of 16 seconds and light offshore winds. The energy is strong (6059), and it's glassy in the afternoon. That's a solid window for the experienced surfer. Similarly, Saturday the 18th offers clean 6ft to 7ft waves with a gentle offshore—a good, more manageable size.

But the real standout, the one you put in the calendar, is the 23rd of July. Thursday morning starts glassy with a 10ft southwest swell, and then Thursday afternoon is pure magic. The wind goes dead calm, glassy, and the swell jumps to 13ft from the southwest with a very long period of 19 seconds. The energy is massive (10670), and it's described as exceptional. This is a big, powerful groundswell. For a beach and point break like Johanna, that long period can make it break a bit straight, but the sheer power and clean conditions will be a treat for experts. Friday the 24th is also a ripper: 13ft from the west-southwest, clean offshore winds, and exceptional conditions. The energy is still huge (8306). After that, the swell lingers but gets wind-affected.

The Bottom Line: The first week is a write-off for most of us. The only real standout, the one clear winner, is the 23rd and 24th of July. The 17th of July is also a solid call for the experienced surfer. If you're hungry, wait for that glassy, massive swell on the 23rd. It's the best of the lot.

Rusty.

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