Keramas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here, and I've gotta be straight with you – these next sixteen days are a bit of a mixed bag for Keramas. The long-range looks like it has some serious size, but the wind is going to be a constant battle. We're not talking about a total wipeout, but you'll need to be choosy with your sessions.

The forecast kicks off on Monday the 27th of July and it's a tough start. Swell is coming in at 7ft from the SE with a short, lumpy 8-second period, but the cross-on wind from the ESE is up at 12 mph, making for choppy, poor surf conditions. The combined wave energy is moderate at 748. Honestly, it's not great – that cross-on breeze is just ruining the face. The water temp is a balmy 81°, which is pretty normal for this time of year.

We grind through Monday and Tuesday the 28th with the same story – cross-on winds and poor surf. The swell drops right down to 3ft on Tuesday, but at least the period stretches out to 16 seconds, which is a solid groundswell. Still, the wind is the problem. Wednesday the 29th is more of the same with 4ft to 4ft SSW swell and 14-15 second periods, but still cross-on.

Thursday the 30th of July is where things start to get a little more interesting. The swell bumps up to 5ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1152. The wind is still a gentle cross-on breeze, so it's messy, but the energy is there. The score is only a 2 out of 10, so it's marginal.

Friday the 31st of July is the first real glimmer of hope. The swell holds at 4ft from the SSW, but the period hits 17 seconds – that's a very long period groundswell. The big news is the wind turns onshore in the morning and lightens up to a 10 mph ESE breeze in the afternoon. The combined energy is strong at 1183. This is a reef break, so that long period will actually work in its favour, offering better shaped waves with longer gaps between sets. It's still marginal, but the afternoon looks the best of the early week.

Now, the standout window is the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of August and into the following week. Saturday the 1st of August has clean, clear skies, a light 10 mph SSE wind that's actually offshore, and the swell is 4ft in the morning, jumping to 5ft in the afternoon with a dreamy 18-second period. The combined energy is very strong at 1654. This is the best on offer. The wind is offshore, the swell is solid, and the period is world-class. Keramas is a reef break, so this is perfect. Just be aware, crowds are sometimes a factor here, so get out early.

Sunday the 2nd of August keeps the energy pumping with 7ft to 7ft SSW swell and a 17-second period, but the wind swings back to a gentle cross-on breeze. The combined energy is massive at 2731. It's still good, but the wind is just that little bit chunky. For the experts, this is still a goer.

The following week, from Monday the 3rd of August through to Sunday the 10th of August, the swell stays solid. Monday the 3rd is 6ft, and then it builds again. The real peak looks like the weekend of the 8th and 9th of August. Saturday the 8th of August has a serious 8ft swell from the SSW with a 17-second period and a combined energy of 3671. That's super strong. But at 8ft, this is only for experienced surfers, and the wind is still a cross-on breeze. The following Sunday the 9th has a 6ft morning that drops to 5ft in the afternoon, but with a 18-second period and a combined energy of 2597. The wind is onshore in the afternoon, which is a bit better.

Overall, the best bet is the afternoon of Friday the 31st of July, and the standout is absolutely Saturday the 1st of August with that light offshore wind. For the more experienced crew, the weekend of the 8th and 9th of August has some serious grunt, but you'll be dealing with a bit of cross-on chop. It's not a total write-off – there's plenty of energy in the water, just not always the cleanest conditions.

Rusty.

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