Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking in with the local skinny.

First thing you need to know: Lyall Bay is looking at a pretty grim stretch for the next week or so. There’s a huge gap of poor conditions to start, so don't get your hopes up early. The first real glimmer of something worth paddling out for is Wednesday the 22nd, but it's a small one. That morning, it’s glassy with a calm wind and a 4ft S swell (period 12 seconds). The combined energy is moderate at 327, so it’s not going to be pumping, but it’ll be clean. It’s pretty inconsistent here though, so don't expect a crowd or a full session. Water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild.

Right now, the standout window is actually Monday the 27th afternoon. The wind goes gentle offshore out of the N at 15 km/h, and the swell is a solid 8ft S (period 7 seconds). That’s a lot of energy in the water (901 combined energy), and it’s going to be clean. The crowd factor is "sometimes" here, so you might have some company, but for a spot that’s usually inconsistent, this is the one to aim for. It’s a bit short period though, so it’ll be a bit dumpy, but with offshore wind, it’ll be rideable. Anything over 8ft and we’re talking expert-only territory, but this is just under that, so it’s doable for most.

After that, Tuesday the 28th afternoon goes glassy again with a 4ft ESE swell, but the period is 13 seconds, so it’s a groundswell. That’s a long wait between sets, but the energy is still decent (648). It’s clean, but it’s a bit of a waiting game.

Looking further out, Saturday the 1st of August gets a massive 10ft SSW swell, but it’s onshore with a light S wind. The guidance says it’s too big for this break, and I’d have to agree. That’s for experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a washing machine. The combined energy is off the charts, but it’s not clean.

Then Monday the 3rd of August is total chaos. We’re looking at a 20ft S swell with a 13-second period. That’s a monster. Combined energy is 12134, which is insane. The wind is cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a mess. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. The same goes for the 4th and 5th of August – huge swell, but ugly.

So, to wrap it up: your best bet is Monday the 27th afternoon. It’s the standout. The 28th is a close second if you don’t mind the long period. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too big to handle.

Rusty.

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