Marengo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the cards for Marengo. We’ve got a proper mixed bag coming up over the next couple of weeks, so let’s get into it.

The swell window opens up later this week, with a solid pulse of long-period SW groundswell. The first few days are quiet, but the real action kicks off on Wednesday the 29th. That’s the standout. You’re looking at a powerful 15 ft to 16 ft swell from the SW, with a period of 15-16 seconds. That’s a lot of water moving – combined wave energy is huge (16082 and 15224), so this is serious, expert-only territory. The wind is cross-offshore, which will keep it clean, but it’s so big that only the most experienced crew should be out. This is a true big-wave day, so if you’re not comfortable in heavy water, give it a wide berth.

Leading up to that, Monday the 27th offers a small but clean 4 ft SW swell with a 13-second period. The wind is gentle and cross-off, making for very good surf conditions. It’s a nice little warm-up, though the energy is moderate (718). The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Tuesday the 28th is a bit of a write-off. The morning has a clean 5 ft swell, but the wind is gusty and cross-off, making it hard work. The afternoon sees a bigger 6 ft swell with strong offshore wind, but it’s a tough paddle-out and the conditions are marginal.

After the big Wednesday, the swell drops quickly. Thursday the 30th has a clean 3 ft to 4 ft SW swell with moderate offshore winds. It’s small but clean, and the energy is moderate (986 and 679). Friday the 31st is similar, with light winds and 4 ft to 4 ft swell. Not exciting, but a nice, easy paddle for beginners.

Saturday the 1st of August brings a bit more interest. The morning is small and cross-shore, but the afternoon sees a 6 ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean. This is a long-period groundswell, so it’ll be better over the point and reef sections at Marengo, rather than the beach. The energy is strong (1945), and it’s one of the better options in the second half of the week for experienced surfers.

Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd see a consistent 5 ft to 6 ft SW swell with moderate offshore winds, keeping things clean. The energy is strong (1364 to 1585). These are good, solid days for intermediates and up, but nothing that’ll blow your mind.

The second week gets a bit smaller and more inconsistent. Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th are small, with a 4 ft to 7 ft swell. The 4th has glassy conditions in the afternoon, which is a treat, but the swell is weak. The 5th is blown out with onshore wind. The rest of the week into the weekend is full of small, weak SW swells (2 ft to 5 ft) with very long periods (17-23 seconds) but combined energy is low (545-650). These are clean, but tiny. Not worth a special trip.

So, the standout is absolutely Wednesday the 29th of July. That’s the big one for experts. For the rest of us, the best bet is the consistent, clean swell from Sunday the 2nd through Monday the 3rd of August, with a solid 5 ft to 6 ft SW swell and clean conditions. The Saturday afternoon session on the 1st is also a good pick for experienced surfers after a long-period swell.

Stay safe out there, and remember: the big days are for the brave, the small days are for the soul.

Rusty.

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