North wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this 16-day window for Northwall is a real mixed bag, and it’s gonna take some patience. The first week is mostly a write-off with big, unruly swell and howling winds, but there are a couple of windows where the stars might align, especially for the patient surfer.

The pattern starts with a pulse of solid but messy swell. Wednesday the 15th is a no-go – tiny 0.7ft junk in the morning, then it jumps to a stormy 8ft with a short 7-second period and a 22 mph southerly ripping across it. The wave energy is moderate (608), but the wind is just too strong. Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th are even worse: 10ft and 8ft of short-period, cross-shore slop with wind speeds hitting 25 mph. The combined energy is strong (1286-845), but it’s all wind-chop and cross-shore mess. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. For a beginner-friendly beach/groyne setup like this, it’s just dangerous.

Now, Saturday the 18th morning is a standout, but only for the experienced. The forecast shows a big 12ft groundswell from the SE with a 9-second period and a cross-offshore wind from the S at 25 mph. The combined energy is very strong (2069), and the conditions are clean, but the swell is simply too big for this break. Only experts should even consider it. The afternoon sees the wind jump to 31 mph, making it unsurfable.

Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th are still pumped up with 13ft and 12ft swell, but it’s cross-shore and lumpy. The wave energy is very strong (3350-2279), but the wind ruins it. Monday afternoon actually has a note saying the tide is favourable, but the swell is still too big for a beginner spot.

The real chance comes Tuesday the 21st. The swell drops to a more manageable 8ft to 8ft, period is around 11 seconds, and the wind eases to 9 mph from the SE. The combined energy is still strong (1464-1144), but the conditions are only marginal. The morning has a cross-onshore chop, but the afternoon clears up with a gentle cross-shore and slight chop. It’s not perfect, but it’s the most surfable day in the first week.

Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd mornings are a glimmer of hope. We get clean 5ft to 6ft E swell with a 10-second period and light offshore or cross-offshore winds. The combined energy is moderate (729-445). Wednesday morning is rated as “very good” conditions, Thursday morning as “good.” This is the best on offer for the period. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild.

The end of the first week and into the second week is a slow fade. Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th see a drop, with a bit of a bump on Saturday (8ft, 8 seconds) but with rain and light cross-shore winds. The energy is moderate (960-1014). Sunday the 26th morning has another clean 7ft SE swell with light offshore wind, a decent option. From Monday the 27th onwards, the swell drops below 5ft and the period varies, but the energy is weak (under 500). The wind is mostly cross-off or cross, but the swell is just too small to get excited about. The last few days of July are a flat spell.

So, the standout is the Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd mornings. Those are your best bets for clean, manageable waves on a beginner-friendly break. The Saturday the 18th morning is a big-wave option for experts only. For the rest, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more