Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, but it’s gonna be a wild ride. The first wave of energy is big, really big, and the wind is going to be a major player. The best call for the whole period is Saturday the 26th, where we get a nice clean window of opportunity.

Right off the bat, Rainbow Bay is looking at a serious pulse of swell. Starting Saturday the 18th, we’ve got a 12 ft to 15 ft SSE swell with a 9 to 10 second period. The combined energy is massive, hitting 2406 on Saturday morning and ramping up to 3716 in the afternoon. That’s a strong, powerful system. The wind is blowing offshore from the S at 22 mph, so it’ll be clean, but that’s a lot of water moving. The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. This is expert territory, no doubt about it. It’s a point break, so it’ll handle that size, but you’ll need your wits about you.

Sunday the 19th is the peak of this first blast. The swell jumps to 16 ft from the SE, still with a 10-second period, and the energy is astronomical at 4657. The wind is a strong offshore from the SSE at 25 mph. It’s clean, but it’s going to be a battle to get out and a real handful once you’re in. Total expert-only stuff. The rain showers won’t help the mood either.

The swell starts to back off a bit on Monday the 20th, with 12 ft to 10 ft from the ESE, but the wind goes cross-offshore. It’s still clean, but that direction change can make it a bit tricky. The energy is still high at 2183 and 1687. The quality is dropping, and it’s a tough paddle.

Tuesday the 21st is a transition day. The swell drops to 7 ft in the morning, then 6 ft in the afternoon. We get a brief window of gentle offshore wind in the afternoon, which is a nice change. The energy is down to 610. It’s the first day that’s not a total war zone.

From Wednesday the 22nd through Friday the 24th, the swell goes really small. We’re looking at 5 ft down to 3 ft. The energy is weak, dropping to 128. The wind goes glassy or light, so it’s a pretty period for a paddle, but not much to ride. Wednesday the 23rd is a total flat spell.

Then we get a second pulse. Friday the 24th afternoon kicks off with a 8 ft SSE swell, 9-second period, and a moderate offshore wind. The energy is 1016, and the forecast is “expect very good surf conditions.” This is a nice, clean, solid size for a good surfer.

But the standout is Saturday the 26th. The morning brings a 6 ft S swell with an 11-second period and a light offshore from the S at 6 mph. The energy is 1182. The combination of a clean, long-period groundswell, offshore wind, and a manageable size is the best of the whole run. The longer period means the waves will have proper shape and power, and the gaps between sets will make the paddle out easier. This is the one you want to circle on the calendar.

After that, we get a drop-off again. Sunday the 27th is clean and glassy, but the swell is tiny at 3 ft. The rest of the week into the beginning of August is a series of small, weak swells ranging from 0.7 ft to 6 ft, with mostly offshore or cross-offshore winds. The energy is low, often under 500. There’s a small bump on the 29th of July with 6 ft from the SSE and a 10-second period, but it’s nothing special. Overall, the second week is a snoozer.

So, the big picture: Don’t bother with the first weekend unless you’re a pro. The best surf is clearly on Saturday the 26th. It’s a Sunday morning session that will be worth the wait. The 24th is a solid second choice. Everything else is either too big, too small, or too windy to get excited about.

Rusty out.

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