Newport - The Peak Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Newport – The Peak (reef) over the next couple of weeks.

Things start pretty quiet on Thursday 23 July morning. There’s a small 3 ft swell from the ENE with a period of 9 seconds, and the wind is light offshore from the west. The combined energy is weak at 129, so it’s surfable but nothing to get excited about. By the afternoon, the wind swings and freshens, and conditions go downhill.

Friday 24 July morning is where it kicks off. The swell bumps up to a solid 7 ft from the south at 10 seconds, pushing the combined energy to 1388 (moderate). The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze, and the surf is clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers – that south groundswell has some punch, and the reef setup should handle it well. Beginners will find it too big. The afternoon sees the wind turn onshore and the surf drops, so the morning is the window.

Saturday 25 July morning keeps the good times rolling with a 6 ft south swell, period 11 seconds, and clean offshore west winds. Energy sits at 695. Saturday afternoon is even better: the swell eases to 4 ft but the wind goes glassy from the NNE – dead calm. That’s a rare treat, and you’ll find clean, lined-up waves with no chop. Crowds are often here, so get in early.

Sunday 26 July morning offers another solid 6 ft south swell (11 seconds, 817 energy) with light cross-offshore winds – clean again. The afternoon turns onshore and messy, so make the most of the morning.

Monday 27 July morning drops to 4 ft south swell (9 seconds, 213 energy) but the wind is light offshore from the west, so it’s clean and fun for a smaller day. The afternoon is a write-off.

Tuesday 28 July sees the swell bottom out – tiny 1 ft on Tuesday morning, and by Wednesday 29 July, a strong southerly wind (18–22 mph) chops everything up. A long-period 17-second swell arrives Wednesday morning but with 0.7 ft and strong cross-shore wind, it’s ugly. Not worth paddling out.

Now, Thursday 30 July – hold onto your board. A big 15 ft south swell (12 seconds) rolls in, combined energy is a massive 9408 (strong). The problem? Fresh cross-shore winds from the south at 18 mph make it lumpy and messy. This is expert-only territory, and even then it’s a battle. The reef will hold, but conditions are far from perfect. Friday 31 July morning is cleaner with a 12 ft south swell and gentle cross-offshore wind – excellent for experienced surfers, but still huge. The afternoon goes onshore.

Saturday 1 August morning brings a 8 ft southeast swell (12 seconds, 1492 energy) with light cross-offshore west winds – clean and powerful. This is another standout morning for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets a light onshore ripple but remains surfable.

Sunday 2 August morning sees a 5 ft southeast swell (10 seconds, 502 energy) with light offshore west winds – clean, fun, and more accessible for intermediate surfers. Afternoon turns choppy.

From Monday 3 August onwards, the swell drops away. Monday morning has 3 ft with clean winds but very ordinary energy (178). Tuesday 4 August sees a short-period 6 ft south swell (7 seconds) – clean morning, but that short period means weaker, mushier waves. Wednesday 5 August morning picks up again with 8 ft from the southeast (8 seconds, 861 energy) and offshore west winds – clean and punchy, but the short period means it’s better for the reef than a beach break. Thursday 6 August has 7 ft from the southeast (7 seconds, 472 energy) with clean offshore winds – again, short period but fun for experts. Friday 7 August morning is glassy calm with 5 ft southeast swell (7 seconds, 298 energy) – clean and friendly for those who like it small.

Overall, the best windows are Friday 24 July morning, Saturday 25 July morning and afternoon (the glassy afternoon is a gem), and Saturday 1 August morning. The big swells around 30 July are impressive but wind-affected, so only for the die-hards.

Rusty

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