Langs beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this straight. The 16-day window ahead of us here at Langs beach is a lean stretch. There’s a real dry spell to start, with nothing worth paddling out for in the first week and a half. The first real whisper of a wave doesn’t show up until the morning of Thursday the 30th of July, and even then it’s got its issues.

Right now, the water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing weird going on there.

For the first week, we’re looking at a lot of small, weak energy. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3 ft, and the periods are short and messy. The energy readings are mostly in the double digits, like 35 (weak energy), 37 (weak energy), up to 178 (moderate wave energy) on Tuesday the 21st, but that’s a 5 ft, 6-second windswell under cross-offshore winds. It’s clean, but it’s just not got the guts. The call is “surfable waves but very ordinary” – and that’s being generous. For a beginner spot like Langs beach, it’s not even worth the walk.

The pattern stays stubborn. Wednesday the 22nd through to the 29th of July is a flat spell. The swell drops to 0.7 ft or 2 ft, energy readings are pathetic – 7, 18, 28, 37, 46, 81 – all double-digit weak energy. The wind is mostly cross-off or glassy, so the surface is clean, but there’s just no wave to ride. It’s the kind of stretch that makes you check the forecast twice and hope for a change.

Finally, on Thursday the 30th of July, we see a pulse. The morning brings a 6 ft swell from the north, with a short period of 6 seconds. The energy jumps to 451 (strong wave energy). The wind is light and cross from the west, with a slight air, so it’s glassy. The catch is the wave comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” It’s a short-period swell, so it’s going to be a bit lumpy and won’t hold shape well – especially on a beach break. This is more of a shortboard chop-hop than a smooth ride. The afternoon is similar, 6 ft, north, 7 seconds, energy 521 (strong wave energy), but the wind swings onshore from the NNE. That’s a dealbreaker for clean waves.

Friday the 31st of July is a write-off: 6 ft swell, but cross-onshore winds at 12 mph from the NW chop it up real bad. The energy is 585 (strong wave energy), but it’s a messy, blown-out situation. Not for the faint-hearted.

Moving into the second week, the pulse fades quickly. Saturday the 1st of August has a 5 ft swell from the WNW, only 5 seconds, energy 147 (moderate wave energy), with cross-offshore wind from the SW. It’s clean, but that short period means it’s weak and unorganized. Sunday the 2nd of August is a drop back to 4 ft from the west, 5 seconds, energy 119 (moderate wave energy). The wind is light cross, so it’s clean but again, small and weak.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. Monday the 3rd of August is 1.0 ft, and Tuesday the 4th of August is 0.3 ft. The energy readings are 24, 15, and 34 – all double-digit weak energy. The last entry on the 4th has offshore wind from the south at 12 mph, but with a 0.3 ft swell, you’re just looking at a mirror-flat ocean.

The best on offer in this whole 16-day run is the morning of Thursday the 30th of July. That 6 ft north swell, even with the short period and the tide question, is the biggest pulse we get. The wind is light and glassy. For a beginner spot, 6 ft is on the limit of what’s friendly, but it’s the only window where there’s any real size. The afternoon of the 30th is bigger energy but onshore, so skip it. The morning of the 1st of August is a distant second – clean, but small.

Crowds are possible at Langs beach, as it’s a beginner-friendly spot that can get busy. But with this kind of forecast, most folks will be staying home.

It’s a tough run. But it tends not to stay this poor for long, and forecasts can change. Keep your eyes peeled.

Rusty.

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