Mount Irvine Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

It's a tough one this time. The overall pattern is pretty grim, with a long stretch of onshore, cross-off winds and poor conditions. There's a small window late in the period that might just save it, but patience is going to be the name of the game.

The first real chance for a surf doesn't come until Sunday the 25th of July. For the whole week before that, from the 12th through to the 24th, it's a write-off – strong winds from the east and east-northeast at 15 to 18 mph, combined with a messy, short-period swell (7-8 seconds) and a combined energy that's mostly weak to moderate (173-357). The forecast says "poor surf conditions" for almost every session, and I'm not about to argue. It's a whole lot of nothing for the paddle.

But then, Sunday the 25th of July afternoon shows a little flicker of life. It's not a massive change, but it's the only real standout in the whole 16 days.

Mount Irvine is the only spot in the game. It's a reef and point setup, and it's consistent, which is a plus. It's exposed to the swell, and the optimum direction is from the northeast. The water temp is sitting at 82°, which is about normal for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The standout moment is Sunday afternoon, the 25th. The wind finally swings around to an offshore direction from the east-southeast at 15 mph. That's a game-changer for a point break like Mount Irvine, promising clean, lined-up waves. We've got a swell of 5 ft coming from the east, with a period of 8 seconds and a combined energy jumping to 458 – that's a solid, moderate pulse of energy. The crowd factor is "sometimes", so you might have a few other keen locals out, but it shouldn't be a zoo. This is the one to aim for. The only slight caveat is the period is a touch short, so it might not have the raw power of a groundswell, but with offshore wind, it'll be fun.

The next day, Monday the 26th, the wind is back onshore and the energy drops off a cliff. So you really have to be on that Sunday arvo window.

For the rest of the period, it's back to the same old story of poor conditions. The 24th of July Friday afternoon has a big spike in energy (611) from a 6 ft east swell, but the wind is still cross-off, so it's just a messy, blown-out proposition. Not worth the drive.

So, in short: the first week and a half are a brutal, wind-affected slog. Your one and only call is Mount Irvine on the Sunday afternoon of the 25th. It's a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but if the wind holds, it could be a solid session.

Stay patient.

Rusty

Read more