North Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m looking at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and to be honest, it’s a pretty quiet stretch for North Bar. We’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands before anything really gets going, and even then, it’s nothing to get too fired up about. Let’s break it down.

Right now, starting Sunday the 2nd of August, the surf is tiny. We’re looking at a weak 3 ft south swell with a short period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy is only 88 – that’s weak. Winds are a cross-off from the south, so the water is clean, but there’s just no power. It’s a bit of a dud. The water temp is sitting at 68°, which is about 3° cooler than average for this time of year, so it’s a touch chilly.

Monday the 3rd sees a jump in size, but it’s not all good news. Morning brings a solid 8 ft south swell, period at 8 seconds, and the energy jumps to 830 – that’s moderate. But it’s coming with light rain and a strong cross-off breeze. The afternoon cleans up with a fresh offshore wind from the southwest and the swell pushes to 10 ft, energy up to 1187. That’s a lot of water moving. For most surfers, that’s too big – it’s really only for the experienced crew. For beginners, this is a no-go zone.

Tuesday the 4th gets smaller again, down to 5 ft from the south, but the period drops to 8 seconds and the energy is 259. The wind is light and cross-shore, so the waves are a bit messy. Nothing to plan a session around.

From Wednesday the 5th right through to the end of the forecast period, things just fizzle out. We’re looking at waves under 3 ft, mostly 0.3 ft to 2 ft, with periods between 3 and 11 seconds. The combined energy rarely gets above 100, so it’s all weak. There are long stretches here – days at a time – where there’s barely a ripple. The winds are often offshore or clean, but without any swell, it doesn’t matter.

The only real standout in the whole 16-day window is Monday afternoon, the 3rd of August. It’s the biggest and most powerful we’ll see, with a 10 ft south swell, period of 9 seconds, and energy of 1187. The wind is offshore from the southwest, so it’ll be clean and lined up. But remember, this is short-period swell, so the waves will be a bit chunky and won’t hold that perfect shape for long. It’s definitely a day for experienced surfers only. For anyone else, it’s a pass.

Overall, the consistency is poor, and the quality is low. This is a pretty blank run for North Bar, but in this area, that’s not unusual. Keep an eye on the charts, because things can change quickly.

Rusty

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