Redhead Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. It’s a bit of a tough stretch ahead for us, but there’s a tiny window that might just give us a couple of clean ones.

The forecast starts with a bit of a dud. Sunday the 19th is a write-off – we’ve got a solid 6 ft of easterly swell, but it’s coming straight from the southeast onshore, with a moderate breeze, and the whole thing is just messy. The combined energy is moderate at 798, but it’s all for nothing. Don’t even bother.

Then, Monday the 20th is where it gets interesting. Head to Redhead. The morning is looking glassy, with a light easterly breeze at 3 mph. That 5 ft of east swell is wrapping in with a nice 11-second period, giving it a bit of grunt. The water temp is sitting at 66°F, which is right around average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit. The combined energy is moderate at 593, and the swell is coming from the optimum direction (NE) that this break loves. It’s a reef break, fairly consistent, and it’s best for beginners. The crowd factor is listed as “sometimes,” so you might share it with a few others, but it’s not a circus. This is the standout of the whole run – clean, glassy, and surfable. The morning is the pick.

Monday afternoon, the wind swings east and picks up a bit, turning into a light cross-shore. The swell drops to 5 ft, and the score drops. It’s marginal, but still better than the junk that follows.

From Tuesday the 21st onwards, it’s a slow bleed. The swell drops steadily, and by Wednesday the 22nd, we’re down to 3 ft. The wind is offshore from the northwest, so it’s clean, but the waves are weak and ordinary. The combined energy drops to 113. It’s paddling practice, not a proper session.

Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th are basically flat – less than 2 ft. The combined energy is below 100. The wind is clean, but there’s nothing to surf. This flat spell drags on for a full week. From the 25th through to the 2nd of August, the swell is nearly non-existent, with the combined energy often sitting at single digits. A few days have offshore winds, and the period on the 30th of July jumps to 13 seconds, but it’s a tiny 0.3 ft of swell. Just a tease.

By the 30th of July, winds start getting strong, with a 25 mph cross-shore on the afternoon, and it’s just messy. The 31st of July has a weird 21-second period, but again, 0.3 ft. No good.

The 3rd of August is a dead end – light rain and a fresh cross-onshore wind. No surf.

So, to sum it up: the only real chance is Monday morning, the 20th, at Redhead. It’s glassy, it’s clean, and there’s enough swell to get a few fun ones. After that, it’s a long, flat, frustrating stretch. It tends not to stay this poor for long around here, so keep an eye on the forecast, but for now, that Monday morning is your best bet.

Rusty.

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