Middles/Generals Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Middles/Generals. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about where you’d expect for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

Honestly, this forecast is a tough one. The next 16 days start with a gap – no real surf to get excited about right away. From Saturday the 25th of July right through until the morning of Tuesday the 28th of July, the conditions are mostly messy. Strong cross-shore winds, lumpy cross-chop, and poor surf quality. The swell is mixed up and raw – on the Saturday morning, there’s a 7ft ENE swell with an 8-second period, and the combined energy is 1157 (moderate energy), but that northeast wind at 35 km/h has it all chopped out. No go.

The afternoon switches to a 3ft SSW groundswell at 18 seconds, but it’s still blown out with a 40 km/h cross-wind. That long period stuff would normally get you excited for a point break, but here at Middles/Generals it’s just messy.

Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are much the same – fair to marginal surf with fresh cross-winds and lumpy conditions. Swell heights sit between 3ft and 5ft, with periods around 13-16 seconds, but again, the wind ruins it. The energy is moderate, reading around 1120 to 1265, but it’s not translating into anything clean.

Now, Tuesday the 28th of July afternoon is the only true standout in this whole run. It’s still not perfect, but it’s the best we get. A 8ft E swell at 13 seconds rolls in, with the combined energy hitting 2348 – that’s strong energy, and the wind shifts to a cross-offshore from the NNE at 30 km/h, keeping things clean. This is solid intermediate-to-expert territory, as that 8ft is pushing the limits for beginners. The swell direction is E and the optimum swell direction is also ESE, so it’s a good match. Middles/Generals is fairly consistent, exposed to the swell, and crowds can be likely here. It’s a beach-and-reef setup, so that long 13-second period should wrap in nicely, but keep in mind bigger sets will pack a punch. This is your window if you’re keen.

Wednesday the 29th sees a drop-off. The morning has a 8ft ENE swell at 11 seconds, 1762 energy, but the wind is light cross-shore from the SSW – gentle, but still cross, so it’s only marginal. Afternoon gets smaller and choppier.

From Thursday the 30th of July all the way through to Sunday the 9th of August, it’s a rough stretch. Swell heights bob around 4ft to 8ft, but it’s mostly ENE wind swell with short periods of 6-8 seconds, and the wind stays cross, cross-on, or strong and messy. Combined energy drops as low as 196 (weak) by the 9th. There’s no quality, no clean windows, and it’s just poor surf conditions all the way. Honestly, if you’re thinking of paddling out during that period, you’d be better off on a kiteboard – the setup here for those strong, messy winds and lumpy swell is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, bottom line: the only worthwhile session in this 16-day stretch is Tuesday afternoon the 28th of July at Middles/Generals. It’s a one-hit wonder. If forecasts shift, things might change, but right now, get in on that Tuesday and don’t hold your breath for the rest.

Rusty.

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