Saltwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s dive into the local outlook for Saltwater, a point break that’s exposed to the swell. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but things are shaping up to get interesting later on.

The first few days are a write-off, I’m afraid. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are a total bust with tiny, weak swell and mostly poor conditions. You’re better off doing something else. The real action doesn’t kick off until Thursday the 30th, when the ocean finally wakes up.

Thursday morning the 30th sees a clean 1.5m (about 5ft) swell from the SSW, with a light offshore breeze. The energy is moderate (486), and it’s a good entry point into the weekend. By the afternoon, the swell picks up to 1.8m (about 6ft) from the S, with an 11-second period, making for very good, clean surf with moderate energy (738). Friday the 31st is the standout of this first window. Morning has a clean 1.8m (6ft) S swell, 11-second period, light offshore wind, and energy is a solid 800. This is the best on offer for the near term – clean, good shape, and a proper groundswell. The afternoon drops off a bit, but the morning is worth the alarm clock.

Saturday the 1st of August is still fun with a 1.5m (5ft) S swell in the morning, but it’s a step down. Sunday the 2nd has a bigger 1.7m (about 6ft) SSE swell with a very long 14-second period, and the energy jumps to a strong 1108. However, the wind is cross-onshore, so the quality is marginal. That long period will make it powerful, but it might be a bit wonky at the beach setup; for a point break like this, it could still offer some gems.

Into the next week, Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th offer clean, offshore conditions with waist to chest-high surf, but the real big one is coming. Wednesday the 5th of August is the big standout for the experienced crew. Morning brings a solid 3.0m (about 10ft) SSE swell with 10-second period, clean offshore wind, and massive energy (1892). This is excellent, expert-level surf. The afternoon holds similar quality at 2.5m (about 8ft). Thursday the 6th keeps the same 3.0m (10ft) height in the morning with strong energy (1810) and clean offshore wind, but it’s for experts only. The water temp is around 67°F, which is pretty average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.

After that big pulse, Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th settle back down to the 1.7m to 2.1m (6 to 7ft) range, with clean conditions in the mornings. Saturday the 8th morning is actually glassy with a 1.7m (6ft) ESE swell, a real treat. The following week from the 9th to the 12th of August sees a consistent run of glassy mornings with 1.3m to 1.6m (4 to 5ft) E and ENE swells, but the afternoons are ruined by onshore wind. The morning of Tuesday the 11th is a standout in this later period, with a clean 1.6m (5ft) ENE swell, a very long 12-second period, and glassy conditions. The energy is strong (858), and it’s going to be a clean, powerful morning for the more experienced surfer.

So, to sum it up: the best bet on offer is Friday the 31st of July for the everyday surfer, and the big, expert-level swell hits on Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th of August. Keep an eye on those glassy mornings in the second week.

Rusty.

Read more