Steamer Lane-The Slot Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks. We’re focusing on one spot, and it’s a classic: Steamer Lane-The Slot. This is a proper reef setup, and it’s a very consistent wave, so it doesn’t go completely flat often. But I gotta be straight with you – the first week is a bit of a grind.

The forecast kicks off on Thursday, July 16. We’ve got a small swell, around 4ft, coming from the WNW with a short, weak period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (508), but the wind is a cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a bit bumpy. Not the best start. The water temp is sitting at a very unusual 62°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid 5° above average. You’ll feel that. Friday morning, July 17, looks a bit better with a 6ft NW swell and offshore wind, but the period is still short (8 seconds). The energy is picking up (997), but it’s still a bit messy. The rest of the weekend and into next week is a real struggle. Swell drops right off to 2ft, and though the period gets long (17 seconds), it’s so weak the waves are barely there. The combined energy stays moderate (579-891), but the scores are low. It’s a waiting game.

Now, Monday, July 20 afternoon is where things start to get interesting. The wind goes glassy. That’s a huge plus. We’ve got a 4ft S swell with a 14-second period. The energy is solid (755). This is the first real standout of the outlook. The Slot is a reef, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely, giving you clean, lined-up waves. It won’t be huge, but it’ll be quality.

After that, it gets a bit patchy again. The wind gets tricky, and the swell stays small through the end of July. The energy drops off into the 300-500 range. It’s not great for paddle surfing, to be honest. If you’re into kite surfing, the stronger cross-on winds and choppy conditions on the 22nd and 23rd might be more your thing.

The real long-range promise kicks in around Friday, July 24 and into the following week. We’re looking at a very solid, consistent S swell. The combined energy jumps right up to 1238 on Friday morning and stays high, hitting 1380 on Saturday, July 25. The swell height is only 3ft to 4ft, but the period gets very long – up to 21 seconds on that Saturday. That’s proper groundswell. At a reef like The Slot, this is a dream scenario. The waves will have heaps of push and shape, with long, clean lines. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’ll be a little textured but still very, very good. This is the absolute standout of the entire outlook. It’s a week and a half away, so treat it as a promising one, but the signs are strong. The Slot (Santa Cruz) is gonna be the place to be.

The following week, right up to the end of the month, keeps the energy going. The combined energy is often in the 1200-1900 range, so the ocean is very active. The swell direction stays SSW, and the period stays in the 16-21 second range. The wind is mostly light, so conditions will be good. It’s a classic summer groundswell run. The crowds at The Slot can be a problem, so be prepared for that.

Rusty.

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