Lawrencetown Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for our local stretch.

To be straight with you, the next week and a half is a bit of a write-off for any decent stand-up surfing. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions from now until about the 20th of July. The wind is constantly messing things up, and the swell is either small and weak or just plain ugly. It’s a frustrating run of onshore and cross-shore winds that leave the surface choppy and lumpy. You’ll see a few days with waist-high swell, but the wind kills it.

Now, there is a glimmer, and it’s a proper one, but you have to wait. The first real standout comes on the morning of Monday the 20th of July. The swell picks up to a solid 6 ft from the SSW, with a period of 10 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell with some energy behind it (combined energy of 701). The wind is a light WSW at 3 mph, which is a slight cross-shore but with tiny crossing ripples. It’s not perfect, but it’s by far the best looking surf in this whole forecast. The water temp is sitting at 60°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest wetsuit. This is a beginner-friendly reef break, so it’s good for all levels, but keep in mind that Lawrencetown Reef can get crowded sometimes, so get in early.

The following few days after that dip back into the poor bin with the wind swinging onshore again.

Then, we get a second, much more powerful, but also more dangerous window. On Wednesday the 22nd of July, the swell absolutely jacks up. We’re talking 10 ft in the morning and 12 ft by the afternoon, straight from the SSW with a 10-second period. The wave energy is enormous (combined energy of 1680 and 2546). The wind is a moderate cross-onshore, so it won’t be smooth. This is expert-only territory. The forecast says it’s too big for this break, and I agree. If you’re not a seasoned pro on a reef, give this a wide berth. This size is better suited for a kite, honestly.

The mornings of Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are worth a mention because the wind goes glassy, with a NNE and ENE light breeze at 3 mph. The swell drops back to 4 ft from the S and S respectively. The energy is weak to moderate (309 and 164). On Friday morning, the conditions are glassy, and the forecast actually says "expect good surf conditions." It’s a small, clean window for the longboard or a fun fish, but the Saturday morning, while glassy, is described as "very ordinary." A small window of clean, small waves.

After that, from the 26th of July onward, it’s back to a poor finish with onshore winds and fading, weak swell. Nothing to get excited about for the last few days of the forecast.

So, to sum it up: the clear winner is Monday morning, 20th of July for the best combination of size, period, and manageable wind. The second shout is the Friday morning, 24th of July for a clean, smaller session. The big Wednesday swell is for experts only. Stay patient.

Rusty.

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