Kawana Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – for the next 16 days, Kawana Beach is a frustrating watch. The surf starts off messy and stays that way for the most part. There’s a brief window of hope on Thursday the 23rd, but it’s a tease, and after that, the ocean basically goes to sleep for a solid week. We’ve got a bit of a pulse trying to build again in the second week, but it’s wind-affected and inconsistent. Not a classic winter run, that’s for sure.

The first real chance to paddle out is Tuesday morning, July 21st, but don’t get excited. We’ve got a 8 ft swell from the ESE, with a 10-second period – that’s a decent amount of water moving, with moderate combined energy (1089), but the wind is a solid 16 mph onshore from the SE and the report says “poor surf conditions.” It’s blown out, full stop. The water is 68°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. By the afternoon, it drops to 7 ft from the E, still onshore, still messy. Wednesday morning, July 22nd, is a marginal call with 5 ft from the E, but the wind is a light cross-onshore, so it’s still bumpy.

Now, Thursday morning, July 23rd – this is the one stand-out in the 16-day window. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, with a clean 4 ft swell from the E. The period is only 8 seconds, so it’s a shorter-period wind swell, but with those conditions, it’s going to be clean and fun for the beginners and longboarders this break is made for. The combined energy is weak (208), so don’t expect power, but the glassy surface makes it the best on offer. The crowds are “sometimes” here, so you might have a few out, but it’s worth the early alarm. The water is still a bit cold, but you’ll be fine in a spring suit. The afternoon on Thursday turns cross-onshore and drops to 4 ft, so that window is short.

From Friday the 24th onwards, it’s a grim run. The swell drops right off – 2 ft, 2 ft, 1.0 ft – and the wind stays onshore or cross-shore for days. The combined energy reading drops to 20 or 30 (weak), and the reports are all “poor surf conditions.” There’s a gap of nearly a week with no real surf on offer. On Wednesday the 29th, the wind goes glassy again, but the swell is a pathetic 0.7 ft from the ESE. That’s a lake, not a surf break. The period is 13 seconds – a long groundswell – but there’s no wave height to push it.

Into the second week, we get a tiny pulse. On Sunday, August 2nd, the swell bumps up to 5 ft from the SSE, but it’s a short 7-second period, the wind is a moderate cross-shore, and the report says “poor surf conditions.” The energy is moderate (239). Monday the 3rd is similar, 5 ft from the SE, but still cross-shore and marginal. Tuesday the 4th kicks up a bit, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-onshore, making it a lumpy, choppy mess – that’s more kite-surf territory than a clean paddle. The combined energy is moderate (280). After that, it fades again.

Honestly, if you’re a beginner or just want a clean, small wave, make a move on Thursday morning, July 23rd. Everything else is a write-off or a battle against the wind. The forecast can change, but for now, it’s a lean period.

Rusty.

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