Mission Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’m breaking down the next two weeks at Mission Beach. It’s gonna be a test of patience.

The first couple of days are slow. We’ve got a small, long-period groundswell from the SW, running about 16 seconds. That’s good energy, but it’s not making good waves here. The swell energy is moderate (629), and the wind is light and offshore on Tuesday morning, which is a plus, but the overall quality is just marginal. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday, the wind shifts to the NW, messing up the surface. It’s a cross-onshore chop, and the surf is poor. The swell drops, and the energy goes down to 455 on Wednesday morning. Not worth it.

Thursday morning (July 23rd) is a little better. The wind is light offshore from the WSW, and the swell is 1.2m from the SSW at 13 seconds. The energy is moderate (604), but it’s still marginal. The wind is good, but the tide might be a problem.

Friday and Saturday (24th & 25th) are tough. The wind stays cross-onshore, and the swell is small and weak. The energy drops to 516 on Friday morning. Not a good time.

Then, something changes. Saturday afternoon (25th July) through Sunday, the swell period jumps to 21 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, and the energy climbs to 830 on Saturday morning and 940 on Sunday morning. This is powerful, clean energy, but at a breakwater spot like Mission Beach, that long period can make the waves break too straight. The wind is light, so it won’t be messy, but it’s still a cross-on breeze. It’s still marginal.

The best window is Monday, July 28th. The swell is 1.2m from the SW, period of 17 seconds, and the energy is strong at 1106. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, which is better than onshore. The afternoon on Tuesday the 28th is even better, with 1.3m swell and energy at 1163, with a gentle cross-shore breeze. That’s the best combo of size, power, and wind in the whole outlook.

The end of the month (July 31st) brings a big jump in swell size, hitting 2.0m on Friday morning and 2.2m in the afternoon. The energy is massive, at 1672 and 1979. That’s a lot of power, but it’s coming from the SSW with a 14-15 second period. The wind is offshore, which is great, but the wave comment is still marginal. This is big, powerful swell, too big for beginners. It’s for the experts only.

After that, the first week of August tails off. The swell collapses, the energy drops to 253 on the 2nd, and the wind is cross-onshore. By the 4th, the energy is down to 193. The 5th is even worse, with tiny 0.6m swell. The end of the forecast is flat.

So, the pick of the bunch is Monday and Tuesday, 28th and 29th July. Solid swell, long period, and manageable wind. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got. If you’re looking for a big wave, the 31st might be worth a look, but it’s a gamble.

Keep an eye on it, things can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty

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