Lefthanders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s shaping up. Let’s be straight – this stretch is all about one spot: Lefthanders. It’s a reef break that’s very consistent and exposed to the west-southwest swell, and it’s a beginner-friendly wave, but don’t let that fool you – the ocean’s gonna be throwing some serious muscle for the next few weeks. Water temp is sitting around 67°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off on Sunday, July 5th, but honestly, it’s a write-off. Morning brings a lumpy 5 ft SW swell with a cross-on wind from the north-northwest at 22 mph, making for poor conditions. Combined wave energy is moderate at 1452. The afternoon isn’t much better – 7 ft WSW swell, still cross-on, and just marginal. Not a session worth paddling out for.

Monday, July 6th is where things get wild, but not for the faint-hearted. The swell jumps to 12 ft WSW, with a clean, cross-off wind from the southeast at 16 mph. The wave energy is strong at 5663. The wind and tide are actually favorable, but the swell is way too big for beginners – this is expert territory. The waves are clean but big. The same story holds for Monday afternoon, Tuesday July 7th, and Wednesday July 8th – all producing 12 ft to 13 ft swells with favorable winds (cross-off or light cross), but over 8 ft means experts only. Periods are long, often 15 to 17 seconds, which is classic groundswell, so the sets will be packing power and spacing. At a reef like Lefthanders, that’s pure gold for the experienced crew.

Thursday July 9th, the swell eases slightly to 10 ft in the morning with a light onshore wind – still big but a bit cleaner. By the afternoon, it drops to 8 ft on-shore, marginal. Friday July 10th slumps: morning has 5 ft but onshore and messy, afternoon gets lumpy again with 8 ft and 22 mph cross-on. Poor.

Now, here’s the standout. Monday, July 13th – mark it. The swell drops to a manageable 7 ft SW, and the conditions are absolutely pristine. Morning has a gentle cross-off breeze from the northeast at 9 mph, giving clean waves. But the afternoon is the real gem: glassy conditions, barely a breath of wind from the northwest at 3 mph, with a 7 ft SW swell and a 18-second period. That’s very long period groundswell, with strong wave energy at 4717. The word is excellent, and for experienced surfers, this is the best session of the forecast. The crowds at Lefthanders can be a factor often, but with these conditions, it’ll be worth sharing the lineup.

Tuesday July 14th picks up again to 10 ft, clean cross-off, but too big for most. Wednesday July 15th gets messy with onshore winds. Thursday July 16th through Saturday July 18th remain solid, with 10 ft to 12 ft swells, generally clean or cross-off winds, but always too big for beginners – experts only. Sunday July 19th falls apart with rain and onshore winds. Monday July 20th closes out the run with 12 ft SW, cross-off winds, clean but big.

So, to sum it up: the best of the bunch is Monday July 13th afternoon – glassy, 7 ft SW swell with a deep 18-second period, and excellent conditions for those with the chops. Everything else is either big and clean for experts, or small and messy for the rest of us. If you’re not an expert, you’re sitting this one out until that magic Monday.

Rusty out.

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