Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, your local surf reporter. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming up for Shark Island (Cronulla). The next few days are looking pretty flat, but the long-range stuff has me a little excited. Let’s break it down, mate.

The week kicks off with a tease on Friday, July 10th. Thursday morning we’ll see a clean 6 ft swell from the SE, with a light cross-off breeze from the S. The wave energy is moderate (513), and the water temp is 63°, which is about average for this time of year. Friday afternoon stays clean too, with a 5 ft SE swell and even lighter winds. It’s not huge, but it’s a solid start for a reef break that’s fairly consistent. This spot has a SE optimum swell direction, so the direction is on point. Keep in mind crowds are possible here.

Then we hit a dry spell. Saturday the 11th drops to 4 ft, and the wind turns cross, making things a bit messy. From Sunday morning through to Tuesday afternoon, the swell just disappears, getting down to 0.7 ft – total flatness. We’re talking about a solid gap of no surf from the middle of Saturday through to Monday night.

Wednesday the 15th brings a sudden spike: a 7 ft S swell on Wednesday morning, but it’s blowing a fresh 22 mph offshore from the SSW. That’s a lot of wind, and the period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s going to be bumpy and tricky. The wave energy jumps to a strong 760, but it’s only for the experts. Wednesday afternoon pushes to 10 ft, but with that wind and short period, it’s a messy, blown-out mess. Thursday the 16th hangs around 8 ft from the SSE, still with moderate wind, and the energy is strong (762). This is still expert-only territory.

Now, the standout. Friday the 17th is the one to watch. We’ve got an 12 ft SE groundswell, with a long period of 12 seconds, and a moderate cross-shore breeze. The combined energy is massive (6177), which is very strong. This is a serious, powerful, long-period SE swell. At a reef break like Shark Island, that’s going to produce some memorable, heavy barrels. It’s big, it’s powerful, and it’s only for the top-tier crew. Friday afternoon drops to 10 ft ESE, still with a long period of 11 seconds. The energy is still very strong (2441).

Saturday the 18th holds solid at 8 ft from the SE, with a period of 10 seconds and a light cross-off breeze. The energy is strong (1426). This is still a heavy day, but the wind is clean. Saturday afternoon is the best of the weekend: 8 ft SE, a light SSE breeze at 6 mph, and the energy is strong (1245). The conditions are clean and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the session for the experienced crew who can handle the size.

Sunday the 19th it starts to drop off. Still 8 ft ESE, but the wind turns cross-on from the NNW, and the quality fades. The wave energy is still very strong (1839), but the wind isn’t doing us any favours. By Sunday afternoon, it’s onshore from the NE and messy.

We get a bit of a lull Monday the 20th with a 4 ft ESE swell and clean cross-off winds, but it’s small. Then Tuesday and Wednesday next week are small and windy.

The run home on Thursday July 24th is another promising window. Thursday morning brings a 6 ft ESE swell, with a gentle offshore breeze from the WSW. The energy is strong (1119), and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is a solid, clean, offshore day for the intermediate to advanced surfer. The period is 9 seconds, so it’s a nice, workable swell. Thursday afternoon is also clean, with a 7 ft S swell and a light cross-off breeze. The energy is strong (806). This is a quality end to the forecast period.

The last day, Saturday July 25th, is a step down to 5 ft ESE, with a cross wind and a bumpy surface.

So, for the true standouts, put a big circle around Friday July 17th and Saturday July 18th. That’s the big, powerful SE groundswell with a long period. It’s heavy, it’s for experts only, but it’s the kind of week that keeps you coming back to Shark Island. The second standout is Thursday July 24th, which is a cleaner, more manageable size with offshore winds – a real gem for the crew who can handle it.

Stay safe out there, and don’t be a hero if the swell is over your head.

Later, Rusty.

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