Namotu Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the cards at Namotu Lefts, starting this Wednesday, July 8th. This is a reef break that handles a big SSW groundswell beautifully, and the first session of the day is the standout.

Wednesday morning kicks things off with a clean, glassy 8ft SSW swell that’s packing some serious punch. The combined swell energy is pumping at 4543, so there’s plenty of power in the water. The water temp is sitting at 78°F, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year. The wind is dead calm, so the surface will be like a mirror. This is excellent, powerful surf, but at 8ft it's strictly for experienced surfers – it’s overhead plus and the reef demands respect. Crowds are rare here, so you might have it to yourself.

Wednesday afternoon, the wind shifts to a cross-onshore breeze at 15 mph, and the swell bumps up to 10ft. It gets messy and choppy fast – not worth paddling out in that wind.

Thursday morning (July 9th) holds onto that 10ft SSW groundswell, but the wind is straight onshore at 9 mph, making for a bumpy surface. It’s on the marginal side. The same goes for the rest of Thursday.

Friday (July 10th) dawns with a smaller 8ft SSW swell at 12 seconds, but a light cross-onshore breeze at 6 mph stays on it. It’s not terrible for shape but still messy. The afternoon gets blown out.

Saturday (July 11th) sees a 8ft SSW swell, but morning winds are cross-shore. Still lumpy, not clean.

Sunday (July 12th) morning is the second real highlight. The swell drops a touch to 6ft SSW, wind goes cross-offshore from the ESE at 9 mph, and it cleans right up. The combined swell energy is still a respectable 1461. It’s a smaller, cleaner wave for experienced surfers – a good session without the absolute juggernaut size of Wednesday.

Sunday afternoon gets bumpy again.

Monday (July 13th) morning drops right off – only 3ft of SSW swell, but with a very long 18-second period and light cross-offshore winds making for clean, glassy conditions. Combined energy is a low 805, so it’s a pretty weak little wave. Not really what you go to Namotu Lefts for.

From Tuesday (July 14th) through to the end of the first week, the swell stays small – mostly under 3ft to 5ft. There are pockets of clean conditions with cross-offshore winds, like Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning, but the energy is low (641 down to 387). It’s marginal surf for this break.

Thursday, July 16th afternoon is a curious one: 2ft of SSW swell with a very long 19-second period, and dead calm winds – glassy as it gets. Combined swell energy is a weak 597. A tiny, clean wave for a longboard maybe, but nothing for the reef.

Moving into the second week, the swell stays small and inconsistent. Friday, July 17th has 4ft SSW swell with 17-second period but windy cross-offshore. Saturday, July 18th morning stays clean with light winds and 4ft SW swell (energy 938). The afternoon of the 18th is tidy – 3ft SSW, light offshore wind from the NE, clean, but small (energy 1039). Sunday, July 19th morning sees moderate offshore winds but only 3ft of SSE swell.

Monday, July 20th brings onshore winds and little energy – not worth a look. Tuesday and Wednesday (July 21st & 22nd) are small and choppy or clean but tiny.

The best bet overall is Wednesday, July 8th morning for the biggest, cleanest, most powerful session of the whole 16 days – but it’s for experts only. Sunday, July 12th morning is the solid backup for a cleaner, slightly mellower wave.

Stay safe out there, and don’t be a hero on those 10ft days if you’re not ready. Rusty.

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