North Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for North Beach. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming our way, with some real standouts if you’re patient.

Right now, the start of the period is pretty grim. The early part of the week is a write-off because of that persistent cross-onshore wind. The swell is mostly small and weak, and the wind is just ruining any chance of clean waves. There’s a gap of a few days here where you’d be better off doing something else.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Thursday, July 16th. The morning session is the one to watch. The wind goes glassy, which is a huge positive, and we’ve got a solid 5ft swell rolling in from the East. The period is a nice 10 seconds, so that’s a decent groundswell with some shape. The combined energy is moderate (484). This is the standout of the whole outlook. For an intermediate surfer, that’s the best chance for clean, fun waves. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Later that same day, the wind picks up again, so that window is narrow. The next few days after that are all blown out by strong winds, either cross-on or cross-off, with the swell dropping. It’s not worth paddling out.

Then we get a bit of a wildcard on Saturday, July 18th. The swell swings around to the South, and the energy jumps way up. We’re talking a 5ft to 6ft S swell with a long period of 14 to 16 seconds. This is a very long period groundswell with combined energy readings of 1366 and 1564, which is strong. That kind of swell will be powerful and will have long lulls between sets. The problem is the wind is still light cross-onshore, so it’s labelled as “marginal”. For a beach break like North Beach, a long period S swell can break a bit straight and be tricky, but the power is undeniable. It’s a promising but less certain call from the long-range stuff.

There’s another chance on Tuesday, July 21st. The afternoon looks clean with a cross-off wind and a 6ft NE swell (short period of 8 seconds). The wave energy is moderate (757). The clean conditions are a big plus, but the short period means short, punchy waves. It’s a good call for a quick session.

After that, it’s back to wind and chop. There’s a big, messy 10ft swell on Monday, July 27th, but it’s coming with 22 mph cross-on winds. That’s not surfable; that’s a kite-surfing setup if anything. The energy is very strong (3124), but it’s just a washing machine for paddle surfers.

So, the bottom line: Thursday morning, July 16th is your best bet for clean, fun waves. The Saturday, July 18th is for the experienced crew who want some serious power, but it’s a gamble. The rest of the time, you’re mostly fighting the wind. Keep your eyes on the forecasts, because things can change, but for now, be ready to move quick on that Thursday glass-off.

Rusty.

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