Middles/Generals Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Look, I've got to be straight with you—this outlook for Middles/Generals is a tough one. We're looking at a long stretch of onshore, cross-shore wind and messy surf that just won't give us a proper window. There's a bit of a swell bump showing up in the second week, but the wind is going to wreck it. Let's walk through it.

The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so no complaints there.

The first real surf of the period starts Saturday, July 18, but it's not good. We've got a solid 7 ft ENE swell, but it's coming with a cranking 25 mph cross-shore wind from the same direction. Combined swell energy is moderate at 501, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it's all chop and no shape. It's a write-off.

Sunday, July 19, through to Friday, July 25, is a parade of poor conditions. The swell drops and swings around, but that persistent ENE wind never lets up. There are a few pulses of longer-period S and SSW groundswell, with periods up to 23 seconds, and the combined energy climbs into the strong range (up to 1231 on July 25). But every single session is described as "poor surf conditions" or "marginal" with a cross-shore wind. That long-period S swell would be best at a reef or point, but with the wind screaming across it, it's just not worth paddling out. For the first full week, you're better off doing something else.

Now, the standout—if you can call it that—is the window from Saturday, July 26, through Tuesday, July 28. The swell builds significantly, with an E swell pushing 6 ft to 7 ft, and the combined energy goes through the roof, hitting 2336 on Monday, July 27. That's very strong wave energy. The period is a solid 14 to 17 seconds, which is proper groundswell. But the caveat is the wind: it's still cross-shore, ENE or NE at 16 to 19 mph. The surf will be big, but it'll be lumpy and cross-chop. For strong intermediate to expert surfers, there might be some punchy, difficult waves, but beginners should stay well clear—anything over 5 ft is too much, and this is over 7 ft. It's a potential kite-surfing setup more than a clean paddle session.

After that, from Wednesday, July 29, onward, the swell drops and the wind stays onshore, with conditions described as "poor surf situations" or "marginal." The final few days into early August keep the same story: 6 ft to 7 ft ENE swell, but with 22 to 25 mph cross-shore winds. No thanks.

The crowds at Middles/Generals are often there, but with this quality, they'll be thin. I can't give you a true "best on offer" because nothing is clean. If you're desperate for a paddle, the biggest swell window around July 27-28 is the most powerful, but it's far from ideal. The wind just won't cooperate.

This is a blank run that's pretty normal for the area when the trade winds lock in. It's a long wait, and the forecasts can change, but right now, it's a tough stretch.

Rusty.

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