Norries Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Norries Head over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim run for a while, but there’s a little flicker of hope way down the line.

The forecast starts off with a glimmer on Saturday the 25th of July, but it’s a real tease. We’ve got a 3 ft swell from the SE with a solid 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell – and the combined energy is moderate at 412. The morning has a light cross-shore breeze, so it’s rideable, but the wave comment says it’s marginal with questionable tide. It’s not the kind of session you’d set the alarm for. After that, things fall apart. From Saturday afternoon right through to the end of the month, we’re looking at tiny, weak, and messy surf. The swell drops to 0.7 ft or 1 ft most days, with periods all over the shop and mostly poor conditions. The wind is often cross or onshore, and the energy readings are barely reaching double digits – 24, 31, 15, you get the picture. There’s a gap of several days here with nothing worth paddling out for.

Now, things get a bit more interesting, but not exactly good. On Friday the 31st of July, the swell lifts to 5 ft in the morning and 6 ft in the afternoon from the SE, with the afternoon energy hitting 411 – back to moderate. But the period is short, 6 to 7 seconds, so it’s windswell, not quality. The morning is cross-shore with a moderate breeze, and the afternoon is cross-shore with a gentle breeze, but the surf quality is still marked as poor. It’s a bit of a slog, but if you’re desperate, there’s something to push around on. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of August see the swell hanging around 4 ft to 4 ft from the E/ESE, but again, short period and light onshore or cross-onshore winds. It’s not clean, it’s not powerful, and it’s not recommended.

The real standout, if you can call it that, is way out on Sunday the 9th of August. We’ve got a 6 ft SE swell with a very long 13-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 992 – strong. The morning has a glassy, light cross-onshore breeze, which is about as clean as it gets. This is the best on offer in the whole 16-day window. The long period means the waves will have shape and power, and at Norries Head, being a point break, this could actually set up nicely. I’d say it’s promising, but it’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it. Remember, a swell like that can be a bit keen for beginners – 6 ft with that much energy is for the experienced crew.

For the rest of the run, it’s flat, blown out, or just plain poor. Water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there. Norries is a bit of a rare bird anyway – it’s inconsistent, and when it’s on, crowds can be a factor. But right now, there’s not enough to draw a crowd. This is a long stretch of nothing, but it’s not unusual for the area. Forecasts can change, so keep your chin up.

Rusty.

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