Nimitz Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for Nimitz Beach. Honestly, the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag, and you’ll have to be patient. The first swell of real note doesn't show up until Wednesday the 22nd of July, and even then it's not a world-beater. We've got a long stretch of pretty average conditions before that.

The long-range picture starts to look a little more interesting around the 23rd and 24th of July, with some building SSW groundswell, but the winds are a constant issue. The water temp is sitting at 80°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year.

Let’s get into it. The first worthwhile window is Wednesday morning, July 22nd. We’ll see a long-period SSW swell at 2ft and a period of 24 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell, which means proper lines but long waits between sets. The combined energy is moderate (712). The wind is a cross-offshore from the ENE at 16 mph, so the face will be clean. This is a reef break, and it's inconsistent, so don't expect a wave every minute. It’s a beginner spot, but with that period, the sets will have some punch for the size, so keep your wits about you.

Moving into Thursday, July 23rd, the swell picks up a touch to 3ft from the SSW, still with a long period of 20 seconds. The energy is up to strong (1031). The wind is a fresh cross-off at 22 mph, which will keep things clean but make it a bit of a battle to get out. This is probably the single best day on offer in the whole window – a little bigger, a little more energy, and still clean. The break is ‘rarely breaks’ and ‘inconsistent’, so when it’s on, it’s on, but you’ll be waiting.

From Friday the 24th through to Monday the 27th, the swell hangs around in the 2ft to 5ft range, mostly from the SSW or E, with periods between 14 and 19 seconds. The winds stay cross-off or cross, so it’s not a total loss, but the scores are marginal. The highlight of this stretch is Monday morning, July 27th, with a 5ft E swell at 15 seconds. The energy is very strong (1131), and the wind is a light cross from the E at 9 mph, making for gentle conditions. That’s the biggest wave of the forecast and with light wind, it’s the best chance for a proper session, but being a beach break, that long period stuff might make it a bit fat and straight.

After the 27th, things drop right off. From the 28th of July onwards, the swell drops to 2ft to 3ft, and the energy is weak to moderate. There are several days of poor surf conditions with no recommendations. The last two weeks of the outlook are a write-off for any decent surf. The 30th and 31st have some small SW swell, but the winds are cross-shore and lumpy, and the energy is too low to get excited about.

So, the standout is Thursday, July 23rd, for the clean, long-period SSW groundswell, and Monday, July 27th, for the biggest swell of the period with light winds. Everything else is a gamble. The ‘inconsistent’ nature of the spot means you’ve got to be ready to sit and wait. If you’re a beginner, stick to the smaller days. If you’re an expert, the 23rd might give you a few bombs.

Rusty, signing off.

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