Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Strand (Pipe) over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, but it’s not all clean sailing. The water temp is sitting right around average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real action kicks off Tuesday morning, July 21st. The ocean is cooking up a 6ft SSW groundswell with a 14-second period, and it’s dead glassy with a clear sky. The energy is pumping – (1422) – and it’s got that deep, powerful pulse. This is proper groundswell, the kind that’ll hold up well on the reef and give you some long, rippable walls. But at 6ft, it’s starting to get a bit thumpy for beginners, so experienced surfers are in for the treat. The wind is light out of the NW, which is offshore for this spot, so expect clean, lined-up sets. The crowd factor is a “sometimes” deal here, so you might have some company, but it’s worth it.

Tuesday afternoon the wind swings S and gets cross, making it a bit more wobbly, so the morning is the clear winner.

Wednesday morning, July 22nd drops a notch. The swell backs off to 5ft, but the wind is cross-on from the NNW, and the wave energy drops to (678). It’s a bit grumpy, not the best.

Thursday afternoon, July 23rd is interesting. The swell picks back up to 6ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, and the energy spikes to (1631). The wind is a light cross-shore from the NNW, so it’s not perfect, but there’s a lot of grunt in the water. Worth a look if you’re keen.

The standout of the whole forecast has to be Friday morning, July 24th. We’re looking at an 8ft SSW groundswell with a 15-second period – that’s a serious, long-period groundswell. The energy is massive at (2719). It’s absolutely glassy, zero wind, clear sky. This is a heavy, powerful wave. At 8ft, this is expert territory only. The reef should handle that long period beautifully, but it’s a beast. If you’ve got the skills, this is the session to circle.

Saturday morning, July 25th is still a gem. The swell drops to a cleaner 6ft, still glassy, 13-second period, and energy at (1861). Another fantastic morning for experienced surfers without the extreme size of Friday.

Sunday morning, July 26th is a good option for the intermediate crew. The swell is 5ft, glassy, 11-second period. Energy is moderate at (574). Nice and clean.

Looking into the second week, Monday afternoon, July 27th brings a fresh 7ft SSW swell (14s) with a clean cross-off wind from the SE, but it’s a breezy 22 mph. The energy is huge at (3300), but that wind is fresh. It’ll be clean, but you’ll be fighting the breeze.

Wednesday morning, July 29th is a cracker. 7ft SSW groundswell, 14-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the ESE at 6 mph. Energy is (1723). That’s a top-shelf session for the experienced.

Friday morning, July 31st is glassy again with a 5ft SW swell and 15-second period. Energy is (1699). Another beautiful, clean morning.

Saturday, August 1st is a ripper. Both morning and afternoon are glassy or near-glass, with a 7ft to 8ft S swell and a short 10-second period. Energy is (1318) to (1926). That short period S swell can be a bit sectiony, but with zero wind, it’ll be a fun, clean playground. It’s still big enough for intermediates to be careful.

After that, the surf gets messy with strong winds and choppy conditions from August 2nd through to the 5th. The swell drops right off, and the energy fades. There’s a small, clean morning on August 5th with a 3ft SW swell, but it’s weak at (198). Not much to write home about.

So, if you’re after the best, get on Friday the 24th of July for the big, clean groundswell, or Saturday the 25th for a slightly smaller but still glassy session. The morning of Wednesday the 29th is also a top-tier pick.

Rusty out.

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