Rivermouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Rivermouth has got cookin’ for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a rough start. The surf for the next few days is pretty average with some bumpy, onshore winds messing things up. The real highlight, the one you want to circle on the calendar, is Saturday the 1st of August. That afternoon the stars align – we’re looking at a solid 7 ft of clean, lined-up swell from the S, a period of 15 seconds meaning real groundswell energy, and light offshore wind from the W. That’s a recipe for some excellent, powerful waves for experienced surfers. The combined wave energy is massive at 2849, so it’ll be grunty. The morning of that Saturday is also looking good with a 6 ft S swell and offshore winds – a great session to be had. That’s the pick of the whole outlook, hands down.

Now, Rivermouth is a beginner-friendly spot which is very consistent, so it’s usually got something to offer. For the first week, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Monday the 20th of July has a 7 ft SW groundswell with a 10-second period (moderate energy of 1757), but the 9 mph WSW cross-off wind will keep it reasonably clean. The water is a chilly 64°, which is much colder than normal for this time of year – about 5° colder than average, so you’ll want a thick wetsuit. Crowds are possible here. On Tuesday morning the 21st, the swell drops to 4 ft from the SE with glassy conditions – that’s a dream for a clean, cruisy session for the beginners, even if the swell is small. By Thursday the 23rd, winds pick up and the swell gets a bit messy with a short, weak 8-second period, so it’s not worth paddling out.

Looking at the end of the month, Wednesday morning the 29th of July sees a solid 10 ft SE swell with a short 9-second period, and 25 mph WSW cross-off winds. That’s clean, but the swell is too big for this break – it’s a warning sign for beginners and even intermediates. That one’s for the experts only, or maybe just for watching. By Friday the 31st, it’s a write-off with strong 22 mph winds and lumpy, messy surf.

The second week has a few promising signals. Saturday the 1st of August (that standout again) and then Sunday the 2nd has an 8 ft E swell with strong 25 mph winds – too windy for clean conditions but the short-period swell might be punchy. Tuesday the 4th of August afternoon has a nice 4 ft SSW groundswell with a very long 18-second period and clean offshore winds, giving a combined energy of 2071 – that’s a sneaky good session for a point break style wave at Rivermouth, with long, powerful waves.

So, keep your eyes on that Saturday the 1st of August. The rest of the time, you’ll be picking through some average conditions, but it’s Rivermouth – it’s consistent, so things will turn around. Stay patient.

Rusty.

Read more