Dunedin - St Clair Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break down the next 16 days for St Clair. The first few days are a bit of a rollercoaster, but there’s a real gem tucked away in the second week.

We’re starting on Thursday, July 30, with a decent morning. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, at 51°F. The morning has a clean 3ft swell from the ESE, with a nice 12-second period, and a light northerly breeze keeping it cross-off. The wave energy is moderate (525). It’s a fun session, not too big, not too small. The afternoon drops a little to 3ft, but it’s still clean.

Friday, July 31, goes downhill. A 7ft swell from the SSW hits in the afternoon, but it’s a short-period 6-second wind swell, and it’s getting hammered by a 31 mph SW wind. That’s a near-gale, cross-onshore mess. The morning is small and weak.

Saturday, August 1, the swell jumps up, but it’s too much for this spot. We’re looking at 10ft from the SSE in the morning, dropping to 8ft in the afternoon. The energy is strong (2495 and 2247), but those sizes are for experts only. For everyone else, it’s a day to watch from the beach.

Sunday, August 2, the swell is still hefty at 8ft in the morning, with very strong energy (2634). The wind is manageable, but the size keeps it in the "too big for beginners" category. The afternoon drops to a more manageable 5ft, but the tide conditions are questionable.

Monday, August 3, and Tuesday, August 4, are a total washout. We’re talking 13ft swells from the SSW with strong to very strong wave energy (10,642 and 10,958), but the wind is screaming at 28 mph, creating a horrible cross-shore chop. Not a paddle in sight.

Now, here’s the one that’s got me excited. Wednesday, August 5, is the standout. The morning brings a clean 6ft swell from the S, with moderate energy (818) and a light WNW breeze making it cross-off and glassy. That’s a proper session, clean and with some punch. The size is a bit much for total beginners, but for everyone else, this is the best on offer.

Thursday, August 6, still has some fun waves. A 4ft S swell in the morning, again with a light WNW cross-off wind. Energy is low (311) but it’s clean. The afternoon is smaller and gets a light cross-onshore breeze.

Friday, August 7, the morning is small at 3ft from the SE, but it’s a 12-second period groundswell, and the wind is light and cross-off. It’s clean, but small.

The weekend of August 8 and 9 fades away. Saturday, August 8, has tiny 2ft to 3ft waves, and by Sunday, August 9, it’s only 1.0ft with a very long 13-second period. The energy is weak (72). The long period means the wave shape might be tricky at the beach break, but point breaks could be worth a look.

From Monday, August 10, right through to the end of the forecast on Thursday, August 14, the surf is tiny. We’re looking at 1.0ft to 2ft swells, with very long periods (up to 19 seconds). The energy is weak to low (19 to 148). There are a few glassy moments, but you’ll be fighting for a knee-high wave. It’s a long stretch of small conditions.

So, to wrap it up: Thursday morning, July 30, is a solid start, but the clear winner is Wednesday morning, August 5. Get on it.

Rusty.

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