Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Strand (Pipe). The next week and a half brings a solid run of southern hemi groundswell, but there’s a bit of a tricky wind story to work through.

The first real action kicks off Thursday, July 9th, with a strong SSW swell pushing in. We’re looking at 7ft of swell on the morning, with a period of 14 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is sitting at 1605 (moderate-strong), so there’s plenty of push. The wind is a light cross-off from the SE, keeping things reasonably clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – the size and power will be a handful for the groms. Water temp is 60°, which is just about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Friday morning, July 10th, is a bit of a mixed bag. The swell holds at 7ft from the SSW, but the wind is a cross-off from the ESE, and the cloud cover makes it feel a bit sleepy. It’s doable, but not the pick of the week.

Now, Saturday July 11th is where we start to see a real stand-out. The swell drops a touch to 6ft, but the wind swings offshore from the ESE, with a light 9 mph breeze. That’s clean, offshore lines all morning. The period is 12 seconds, so it’s still a quality groundswell. This is the best morning of the first week – glassy, lined up, and just a solid, fun size.

Sunday July 12th is a gift. The swell drops to 5ft from the S, but the wind goes glassy in the afternoon. A 3 mph SSE breeze, nil wind in the water, and the swell period is 11 seconds. It’s going to be clean, smooth, and a great day for a longboard or a fish. The crowd factor is “sometimes” here, so you might get a bit of company, but it won’t be a circus.

After Sunday, the swell fades away. Monday July 13th and Tuesday July 14th are tiny – 2ft to 2ft – with a combined energy under 200. It’s basically flat, glassy, but not worth paddling out for. That gap lasts until Wednesday July 15th.

Wednesday July 15th sees a new pulse of SW groundswell, but it’s a long-period 16-second wave. The morning is a cross-on mess, but the afternoon goes glassy with 3ft of swell. That’s a good window for a late session if you’re keen. The long period means it’s better for the reef and point setups, but Strand can handle it.

Thursday July 16th and Friday July 17th are a write-off – cross-shore and cross-onshore winds with swell that’s either too small or messy. The combined energy drops to 874 and 469, so it’s weak.

Now, here’s the real gem of the whole forecast: Saturday July 20th. The morning shows a 8ft SSW swell with a 11-second period, blowing a light cross-off from the ESE. The combined energy jumps to 2382 (strong). The afternoon holds 7ft from the S. This is a solid, powerful swell with clean conditions. It’s excellent for experienced surfers. If you can only get one day, this is it.

The week of July 21st throws in some big numbers but with a cross-on wind. The swell on the 21st hits 8ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, but the NW wind will chop it up. That’s a big, messy wave – only for the nuts.

July 22nd Wednesday morning is a beauty: 6ft from the SSW, glassy with a light NE breeze. The period is 14 seconds. Clean, powerful, and a bit of a lull before the next messy run. The 23rd and 24th see more SW swell, but the wind goes cross-shore, so it’s never pristine.

The long-range stuff on July 20th is the standout. It’s a week and a half away, so it’s a bit of a promise, but the signs are all there. Keep your eyes on that date.

Rusty, signing off.

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