Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the coming weeks for our local stretch.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a big, powerful swell rolling in, but the conditions are far from perfect. This is a serious, expert-only situation for the opening weekend. The setup is more like a kite-surfing playground than a clean paddle session, with strong winds and a lot of raw energy.

Starting Saturday, July 18th, Rainbow Bay is getting hammered. We’re talking a solid 12 to 15 feet SSE swell with a period of 9 to 10 seconds. The combined energy is massive, hitting 1684 on Saturday morning and rising to a whopping 3772 by the afternoon. The wind is a fresh offshore breeze from the south, so the face will be clean, but the sheer size and power mean only the most experienced chargers should even think about it. The tide and general conditions are making it a marginal call, and the crowds are likely to be thick.

Sunday, July 19th, the swell holds at 15 feet from the SE, with the energy staying near 3600. The wind shifts to a cross-off from the SSE, which keeps it clean, but the size hasn’t backed off. Again, this is big, raw, and not for the faint of heart.

By Monday, July 20th, the swell drops to 10 to 12 feet from the ESE, still with moderate energy (2012 to 2488). The cross-off breeze keeps the surface tidy, but we’re still in the realm of big, powerful waves. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The real standout arrives on Tuesday, July 21st. The morning session looks like the best of the week. The swell drops to a more manageable 8 feet from the ESE, with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a moderate 1173. For the first time, the conditions are described as "very good." The wind is a moderate offshore breeze from the SSE, and the water is clean. This is the window to get after it. The afternoon sees the swell drop to 7 feet and the energy fading, but the morning is the pick.

After Tuesday, the surf fades fast. Wednesday, July 22nd, through to the end of the month, we see a long, drawn-out lull. Swell sizes drop below 5 feet, and the energy levels fall into the double and low triple digits. The winds are mostly light, with some glassy moments, but the waves are small and weak. For a solid week, from July 23rd to July 30th, the options are very poor. Don’t expect much.

However, there’s a flicker of hope at the end of the run. On Friday, July 31st, a new 7 feet S swell arrives in the afternoon, with a combined energy of 1192. The wind is a moderate cross-off from the SE, keeping it clean. This is a promising sign. Then, into the first weekend of August, things look up. Saturday, August 1st, brings a 7 feet SSE swell with an 11-second period, and the energy is a solid 909. The wind is light and cross-off, and the outlook is "good." Sunday, August 2nd, continues with a 5 feet SSE swell, 11-second period, and a light offshore breeze. This is the real standout for the long-range: clean, moderate waves, and the wind is cooperating. The energy is a moderate 516. It’s far out, so don’t bank on it, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

So, the best call is Tuesday morning, July 21st, for a solid, clean session. The long-range promise is Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd, but treat that as a hopeful whisper, not a guarantee.

Rusty.

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