Soup Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. To be straight with you, it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’re looking at a solid run of easterly swell but the wind has got it wired shut. It’s all cross-onshore, and that’s not what you want.

We kick things off on Friday the 3rd of July, and straight away it’s a write-off. The swell is sitting around 8ft from the east with a short, weak period of 8 seconds, and a gusty 25 mph easterly cross-onshore wind just churns it all up. The combined swell energy is moderate at 606. The water temp is a mild 82°, which is about average for this time of year.

Through the weekend and into the start of the next week, the pattern doesn’t let up. We’re stuck in a rut of easterly swell between 6ft and 7ft, but that wind stays locked in from the east or east-northeast at 15-22 mph, keeping the ocean lumpy and messy. The period never gets above 8 seconds, so there’s no power or shape to the waves. The combined energy fluctuates between 439 and 644, which is still just moderate. Every single entry in the forecast is marked as poor conditions. That’s a lot of days with nothing to get excited about.

From the 8th of July through to the 10th, the swell actually bumps up a little, hitting 8ft on Friday the 10th. But with it still coming from the east and a 22 mph cross-onshore wind, it’s just a bigger mess, not a better one. The combined energy climbs to 878, which is moderate, but useless with that wind. For a reef break like Soup Bowl, which is an advanced wave and exposed to the east-northeast, it would be too big for beginners anyway at over 5ft, but even a good surfer can’t do much with that onshore wind.

After that peak, the swell slowly winds down through the second week. From the 11th onwards, it backs off from 7ft to 5ft, but the wind stays cross-onshore and fresh, so it’s still disappointing. The periods drop to 7 seconds in the later stages, making it even weaker. The energy numbers drop as low as 230, which is weak. By the 16th and 17th, we’re in the doldrums with nothing to recommend.

I’ve got to be honest – there are zero standout sessions across the entire 16 days. This reef is known to be very consistent, but the wind has it completely dialled in for paddle surfing. If you’re really desperate, the small windows on the afternoon of the 10th with 8ft east swell and combined energy of 831, or the morning of the 10th with 878, are the biggest waves on offer, but the wind is still cross-on and the quality is poor. You’d be battling more than you’d be riding.

If you’re into kites, this setup with consistent easterly swell and cross-onshore wind might actually be your bag. For the rest of us, pack the board away and wait for a better run.

Rusty

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