Long Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s on the menu.

We’re looking at a shoulder season swell window for Long Reef, with a slow start. The early part of the week is flat — no point paddling out Wednesday morning with only 0.7ft of south swell and a long 17-second period. The energy is weak (28), and it’s just not enough. That afternoon is even smaller.

Things get going on Thursday morning, July 30. We’ve got a clean 6ft south swell, period at 9 seconds, and a light offshore wind from the WSW. The combined energy hits 621 (moderate). The reef will handle that direction well. Clean, pushy, and offshore. This is the first real standout — a solid Thursday morning for advanced surfers. The afternoon turns cross-shore and messy, so make the morning call.

Friday July 31 holds 7ft south swell, but the wind is more cross-off in the morning, staying clean. Energy is strong (858), but the quality is a notch below Thursday morning. Still surfable, but not the top pick.

Saturday morning, August 1, is a beauty. 5ft south swell, light 10 km/h offshore wind from the west, and clean. Combined energy is 505 (moderate). The wind is glassy enough that the reef will offer peaky, clean lines. Crowds are possible here, but with conditions this good, you’ll want to be early.

Sunday morning August 2 picks up a longer 12-second south swell at 5ft, but the wind is cross-shore, not quite offshore. Energy is 614 (moderate). It’s a good wave, but not the standout. The afternoon turns choppy.

The following week shows a gap from Monday August 3 through Tuesday August 4 with small surf and poor conditions. Then Wednesday August 5 morning sees a return to 5ft south swell with light offshore wind — clean, but energy is 356 (moderate). It’s a good session, but not the best of the window.

The real standout of the whole forecast is Wednesday morning, August 12. That’s 8ft of south swell, an 11-second period, and glassy conditions — no wind, just a slight air movement from the NNW. The combined energy is a massive 1393 (strong to very strong). This is a proper groundswell, and at a reef break like Long Reef, the waves will be powerful, walled up, and demanding. This is for experts only. You’ll need to be on your game. The crowd will be there, but it’s worth it.

Thursday August 13 morning is also big — 12ft south swell, 10-second period, with a fresh 30 km/h offshore wind from the WNW. That’s a lot of water moving (2212 energy), but it’s windblown and a bit raw. More for the experienced crew willing to handle the size and the wind.

So, to wrap it up: the best windows are Thursday morning July 30, Saturday morning August 1, and the absolute standout is Wednesday morning August 12. The rest of the period has some surfable days but nothing that’ll blow your mind. The water temperature sits around 65°F, which is about average for this time of year — no surprises there.

Rusty.

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