Seaside Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into what we’ve got on the cards for Seaside Reef. It’s a reef break that’s advanced only, and it’s an inconsistent one, so when it fires, you gotta be on it. But I gotta be honest, looking at this 16-day window, it’s a real mixed bag with a whole lot of “meh” before we get to the main event.

Right now, water temp is sitting at 71°, which is a couple of degrees warmer than usual for this time of year, so you can leave the steamers at home.

We start off with a bit of a tease on Wednesday, July 8th. The morning has a clean, clear sky with a light cross-on breeze, and a 4 ft SSW swell rolling in with a super long 16-second period. That’s a proper groundswell with great energy (945), but it’s got that real long period, which makes it tricky for a beach break – lucky for us, this is a reef. The issue is, the forecast says it’s marginal. The afternoon sees the wind swing more onshore, but still light. It’s not terrible, but it’s not a standout.

Then Thursday, July 9th, through to Tuesday, July 14th, it’s a rough patch. The swell drops, the wind gets messy, and the water gets choppy. The scores are low across the board. The combined energy drops from the 700s down to the 200s, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, messing up the surface. It’s a period of nothing doing, really. A few days of flat spells with poor surf conditions.

We get a flicker of life on Saturday, July 18th, with a clean 3 ft SW swell (480 energy) and offshore winds, but it’s still marginal and the size is tiny. Not a day to get excited about.

Now, the real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is Sunday, July 19th. This is it. The swell jumps to 6 ft from the S, with a 16-second period. The combined energy is a massive 2238 – that’s serious power. And the wind? Offshore, light breeze from the west. This is as clean as it gets for a reef. The sets will be grinding, but keep in mind, at 6 ft, this is getting into the big range for an advanced spot. The crowd factor is “often” at Seaside, so you’ll likely have company. This is the best on offer, no question. The morning and afternoon both look solid.

The following days still have some life, with a 4 ft swell on Monday, July 20th, and then a steady 3-4 ft SSW swell through Tuesday and Wednesday, July 21st & 22nd, with clean offshore winds. The energy is in the moderate range (500-700), so it’s not the same punch as the 19th, but it’s still a good, clean wave.

Finally, Thursday, July 23rd brings a pulse of 5 ft S swell (1774 energy) with a 16-second period, but the wind is cross-on, which will make it choppy. It’s still a solid swell, but that wind is a letdown.

Verdict: Mark your calendar for Sunday, July 19th. That’s the day. The 6 ft S swell with offshore glass is a rare combo for this spot. The rest of the window is either too small, too windy, or just average. Don’t sleep on that Sunday.

- Rusty

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