Manly Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, checking in on the Manly stretch. We've got a bit of a mixed bag coming our way over the next couple of weeks, so let's get into it.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 64°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. Nothing weird going on there.

The weekend kicks off with some hope. Saturday afternoon the 25th of July looks tidy. We've got a 5ft S swell rolling in with a 10-second period, and the wind is glassy from the NNW. That's a rare treat. The wave energy is moderate (424), and it's a point break setup that likes this S direction. It won't be massive, but for a beginner-friendly spot like Manly, that's perfect clean fun. The crowd factor is "often" here, so expect company.

Sunday morning the 26th of July builds on it. The swell pushes up to 7ft from the S with a longer 11-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the WSW. The energy is ramping up to 938, which is a solid moderate reading. This is the pick of the weekend, with good shape and power, but still manageable.

Now, here's where things go quiet. From Sunday afternoon the 26th, through to Wednesday the 29th of July, the surf drops off a cliff. We're talking small, weak, messy waves. Energy readings fall below 100 at times. A gap of about 3 days where nothing is really worth paddling out for, unless you just want a splash.

The next real standout shows up on Thursday the 30th of July. The morning session is a ripper for the experienced crew. A solid 12ft S swell hits, with an 11-second period, and a strong offshore wind from the SW. The combined energy is a massive 4938, which is very strong. This is legitimately big, powerful groundswell. This is for experts only. Beginners, stay well away. The long period (11 seconds) means it'll have plenty of punch and wall up nicely on the point, but the size makes it serious.

Friday the 31st of July morning remains excellent for strong surfers. It’s still 10ft from the S with a clean offshore, and energy at 1600. Still big and powerful.

After that, we ease back. Saturday the 1st of August morning is back to a more manageable 7ft with good wind, and that trend continues into the following week with a few solid but not epic mornings, like Wednesday the 5th of August (7ft, SSW offshore) and Thursday the 6th of August (6ft, clean).

The second week sees a persistent E/SE swell pattern, but unfortunately, the wind turns onshore from the east for most of it, spoiling the quality. From the 7th of August onward, it's largely a write-off for clean surfing at Manly. The swell is there, but the wind is just rubbish.

So, the bottom line: The absolute standouts are Thursday morning the 30th of July for big-wave specialists, and Sunday morning the 26th of July for the best all-round session with good size and clean conditions. The weekend to start is your best bet for a good time in the water.

Rusty.

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