Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty talkin’. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for Strand (Pipe) over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 60°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The outlook kicks off with a bit of a wait, but from Friday the 10th, we've got some solid S/SSW swell rolling in. The wave energy is strong, clocking in at 1698, but it's a bit of a mixed bag. Friday morning has 7ft of S swell with a 13-second period, but the wind is a cross-offshore, which is okay, but the report flags it as marginal. Friday afternoon drops a touch to 6ft but with a stronger cross-offshore breeze.

Now, Saturday the 11th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning is a standout with a clear sky, 7ft of S swell at 12 seconds, and clean offshore winds from the ESE. The wave energy is still strong at 1266, and conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is the best wave of the early run – solid, clean, and with that offshore wind, it’ll be well-shaped. The afternoon holds up too, just a touch smaller.

Sunday the 12th is still a good call for the slightly smaller crowd. The swell drops to 5ft in the morning with a light offshore breeze, making for clean, fun waves. The energy is moderate at 912, but it’s a great day for intermediates.

We hit a lull from Monday the 13th through Wednesday the 15th. Swell drops right off – Monday has tiny 2ft to 2ft waves, even if it’s glassy. Tuesday and Wednesday are poor, with small, weak, and messy surf. That’s a three-day gap with nothing really worth paddling out for.

Thursday the 16th sees a return of the swell. 5ft of SW swell at 13 seconds in the morning, with light cross-offshore winds. The energy is back up to 892, and conditions are very good. It’s a solid, clean option to get back in the water.

Friday the 17th is a write-off – strong onshore winds and poor conditions, so skip it.

Then we get to the big one. Saturday the 18th looks massive, with 12ft of SSW swell. The energy is extremely high (3899 to 4363). This is a serious, expert-only swell. The wind is cross-offshore, so it will be clean, but at this size, it’s only for the brave. Definitely not for beginners.

Sunday the 19th is still pumping but back down to a more manageable 8ft of S swell in the morning, with clean offshore winds. The energy is still strong at 2033, and conditions are excellent for experienced surfers.

The second week eases into a run of good, consistent surf. Monday the 20th through Wednesday the 22nd sees solid 5ft to 7ft swell, mostly from the SSW, with clean conditions and light winds. The standout in this stretch is Wednesday the 22nd morning – 7ft of SSW swell, a very long 15-second period, and barely a breath of wind. The energy is very high at 2288, and it’s described as excellent for experienced surfers. That long period will make it wall up nicely at Strand, so expect some proper open faces.

Thursday the 23rd morning is another one to circle on the calendar. A massive 8ft of SSW swell with a 19-second period, giving an incredible 7642 energy reading. That’s a very long period groundswell, which will be a sight to behold. The wind is cross-offshore and clean. At 8ft, it’s right on the edge of expert territory, but the quality will be there.

The run continues into Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th, with 7ft to 8ft of SW swell and clean offshore winds. Friday is a particular highlight with 8ft off the SW and a solid 14-second period, plus a clean offshore breeze. The energy is strong at 2860, and it’s excellent for the experienced crew.

Overall, the best on offer is hands-down the morning of Thursday the 23rd of July – that 19-second period with 8ft of clean SSW swell is a proper big-wave session for the experts. For the best all-rounder, the Saturday the 11th morning is a solid, clean 7ft wave with offshore winds, perfect for the confident intermediate.

Keep in mind, Strand can get crowded sometimes, so get there early for the best of it.

Rusty.

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