North Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a real quiet stretch ahead for North Bar, so don’t get your hopes up for any kind of epic session. The first few days are basically a write-off.

Monday 20 July is a total washout. Dead flat with a tiny 0.3ft swell from the southeast and the water is a chilly 67°, which is a solid 4° colder than usual for this time of year – that’s a notable drop, so you’ll want a thick wetsuit. Glassy calm in the morning, but the swell is basically non-existent. The afternoon kicks up a little 2ft from the south with a 7 second period, but the wind is a moderate cross-offshore breeze at 12 mph, keeping it clean. Still, it’s just not enough to get excited about.

Tuesday 21 July stays poor. The morning is a measly 0.3ft again, and the afternoon gets messy with rain showers and a 22 mph cross-shore wind. Lumpy chop. No surf to speak of.

Wednesday 22 July sees a flat spell with zero swell. The wind is offshore, but without any waves, it’s just a day for a paddle or a swim.

Now, Thursday 23 July is the one day that might get your attention. The morning brings a 7ft swell from the south with a 9 second period. That’s a moderate groundswell, and the combined energy is a solid 725 – that’s moderate-to-strong energy. The wind is a moderate cross-shore at 12 mph, so it’s a bit lumpy. This is really only for experienced surfers because 7ft is pushing it for beginners. The afternoon drops to 5ft with a 8 second period, cleaner with a gentle cross-offshore breeze. That’s the best of the week, but it’s still just a marginal window.

Friday 24 July through to Sunday 3 August is a long, drawn-out run of poor conditions. Waves mostly stay under 3ft, and the wind is often cross-shore or onshore, making things choppy. There’s a brief moment on Thursday 30 July afternoon where we get a 4ft south swell with a 9 second period and a clean cross-offshore wind, but it’s only rated as “surfable but very ordinary”. The combined energy is 230, which is moderate. Not a standout.

The rest of the 16-day window stays flat and wind-battered. The swell rarely gets above 2ft, and the wind is often onshore or cross-shore, so don’t bother. The break itself is fairly consistent, but this run is a proper blank spell. The water stays cold, and the wind is relentless.

The one standout? Honestly, there isn’t a true classic in this window. If you’re desperate, Thursday 23 July afternoon is the best bet. The 5ft south swell with a gentle cross-offshore breeze at 9 mph gives you clean, surfable waves. The direction is south, which matches the optimum swell direction from the east, so it’s okay. But with the crowds at North Bar sometimes being an issue, it might be a little busy for what’s on offer. A bit of a tease.

For the rest of the period, if you’re looking at the beach-and-reef setup with the significant swell on Thursday morning and the strong cross-shore wind, it’s more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The waves are there, but the quality is poor.

Keep your eyes on the horizon, but don’t hold your breath. This one is a long, slow grind.

Rusty.

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