Steps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Steps over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, dry spell. The first ten days or so are basically a write-off for anything decent. The swell is tiny, the wind is messy, and every report is calling it "poor surf conditions." You’ll see a few small waves around 2 ft to 3 ft from the SW, but the wind is cross-on or cross-shore, making it choppy and uninviting. Not worth paddling out for.

There’s a bit of a silver lining around Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd, when the wind goes glassy, but the swell drops right off to 1 ft or 1 ft. It’s clean, but you’re barely getting a ripple. Combined energy is down in the single digits (15 to 8), so it’s a total flat spell. The water temp is about 81°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, something to keep in mind if you’re in a wetsuit.

Then, around the 25th and 26th, we get a little bump in period from the SE, but the swell is still tiny (1 ft to 2 ft) and the wind gets strong – Sunday the 26th has a risk of t-storms and a near-gale cross-off wind at 34 mph. That’s not surfable; the wind is just too strong to enjoy it.

The real kicker comes at the very end of the month. On Thursday the 30th of July, the swell jumps up to a massive 23 ft to 25 ft from the WNW and W, with a long period of 11 to 12 seconds. The combined energy is through the roof (11,178 to 14,770). But here’s the catch – the file says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s a monster. The wind is light and cross-off, so it would be clean, but the sheer size makes it a no-go for 99% of surfers.

The best chance we get is on Saturday the 1st of August. The swell drops to a still-chunky 7 ft to 8 ft from the WNW, with a long 12-second period. The wind is offshore (ESE) or light cross-off, and the waves are described as "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." The combined energy is still strong (1,843 to 2,333). This is the standout window. If you’re an experienced surfer, this is your morning. The drop-off from the 30th is significant, but this is the only real pocket of quality in the whole 16-day outlook. Just be aware that Steps is an inconsistent spot, and with this kind of size, it’s not one for the beginners.

So, in short: a long, flat gap followed by a massive, dangerous swell, and then one solid day for the experts. The forecast is less certain for that second week, but as it stands, Saturday the 1st is the one to circle.

Rusty.

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