North Stradbroke - Pt Lookout Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next 16 days at Point Lookout are a mixed bag. We’ve got a lot of swell, no doubt about it, but the wind is gonna be a real handful for a solid stretch. It’s not all bad news, there’s a standout window in there, but you’ll need to pick your moments.

The forecast opens on Wednesday, the 15th of July, with tiny, weak waves at 0.7 ft from the ESE. The wind is offshore from the South, but it’s a moderate breeze, so it’s clean. But honestly, at that size, you’re just getting wet. The combined swell energy is a measly 16, so don’t bother.

From Thursday the 16th through to Monday the 20th, things get big but messy. A strong SSE swell builds in, pushing 7 ft on Thursday morning, up to a massive 11 ft by Sunday the 19th. The problem is the wind. We’re talking near gale-force winds from the SSE and SE, screaming at 28 to 37 mph. It’s offshore or cross-offshore, which keeps the surface clean, but it’s so strong you’ll be fighting just to get out back. The wave energy is through the roof – we’re talking values between 483 and 2768 – but the wind will make it nearly impossible to paddle into. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s a survival mission. For a point break like Pt Lookout, this much swell and wind is more of a spectacle than a surf session.

Tuesday the 21st sees the swell drop a bit to 8-8 ft from the ESE, and the wind eases to a fresh breeze from the SE. It’s still cross-offshore, and the wave energy is high (1031 to 1921), but the conditions are still marginal. It’s a step in the right direction, but not the day.

Now, here’s the real standout. Thursday the 23rd of July. This is the one to circle. The swell holds at a solid 7 ft from the East, with a lovely long period of 12 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is a gentle breeze from the South, offshore, which will give you glassy, clean faces. The wave energy is a strong 1271. The morning is looking absolutely perfect. The water temperature is about 71°F, which is normal for this time of year, so nothing unusual there. This is the best on offer. After that, the swell eases into the 5-6 ft range for the rest of the week, with clean but less powerful conditions.

The following week, from the 25th onwards, the swell drops off. We get some cleaner windows with offshore winds, like the 26th and 27th, but the waves are smaller, around 3 ft to 6 ft, with periods around 10 seconds. The energy is moderate. It’s fun, user-friendly surf for intermediates and longboarders, but nothing to write home about. The 27th of July has a light breeze and good conditions, with a 4 ft East swell – a nice little session. By the 29th and 30th, the wind turns onshore and the swell gets weak, so it’s time to hang up the board.

So, the takeaway: the big swell from the 16th to the 20th is a write-off because of the wind, but Thursday the 23rd is your absolute best bet for a proper, clean, powerful session. After that, keep an eye on the 27th for a more relaxed paddle.

Rusty.

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