Riviera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here, looking at the Riviera stretch for the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but there's a glimmer of something decent if you're keen to wait for it.

Right now, the surf is messy. We've got a moderate swell rolling in, with a combined energy around 553 (moderate), but a cross-onshore breeze has got things choppy and ugly. Expect small, crumbly waves around 3ft from the SSW, but the wind is killing it. Not worth paddling out.

Thursday morning, the 23rd, sees a slight improvement. The swell bumps up a touch to 4ft from the S, with a period of 13 seconds. The wind is still a light cross-on, leaving the surface with small ripples. It's still only marginal, a 2/10 kind of day. Energy is a bit stronger at 642, but the quality isn't there.

Friday the 24th holds a little promise. The morning swell is a consistent 2ft from the SW, but check out that period – 24 seconds! That's proper long-period groundswell, packing a punch with a combined energy of 954 (almost strong). The wind is a light cross-on from the SSW, so it won't be perfect, but those long lines will have some push. For a spot like this, a beach break, that long period can make the waves a bit fat and straight, so it's not a standout. The rating is still only a 1/10 due to the marginal conditions.

The weekend is a bit of a write-off. Saturday has a small 3ft swell from the SW with a 21-second period, but the wind turns onshore making it messy. The energy is 889, but the look is poor. Sunday is a similar story with 3ft and a strong cross-onshore breeze.

Now, Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th start to look a bit more interesting. The swell picks up to 4ft-4ft from the SSW, with a period around 17-18 seconds. The combined energy is into the 1000s (strong), and the wind is light, sometimes going directly offshore. This is where the best of the window sits. The waves should have some shape, but the quality is still only marginal at best, with scores of 2-3. The offshore wind Monday afternoon is a big plus.

The standout moment, if you can call it that, is Friday the 31st of July. The afternoon session sees a swell building to 5ft from the S with a 14-second period and a combined energy of 1077 (strong). The wind is light and offshore, which is a rare treat for this period. The height is pushing into the 5ft mark, so it's starting to get a bit much for beginners, but the clean conditions could make for some fun walls. Still, the overall forecast is only a 3/10, so it's a very marginal standout.

The first week of August looks poor. The swell drops significantly, and the wind picks up. From the 1st, the swell is 6ft from the S, but it's cross-onshore and choppy, making it a messy, windy mess. By the 3rd, the swell drops to tiny 2ft, and the energy is weak (166). The wind is still messy. The whole period from the 1st to the 6th is a write-off with poor conditions.

So, to sum it up: the best chance for a decent surf is Friday the 31st of July in the afternoon. The offshore wind and building 5ft S swell offer a clean window, but it's a fine line as the size is getting up there. The morning of Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th also have some potential with offshore winds, but the swell is smaller. Don't expect perfection, but there are a few hours where it cleans up. Crowds are possible at times, but with the conditions being so marginal, it might be quiet. For the rest, it's a waiting game.

Rusty.

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