Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking at Strand (Pipe) over the next sixteen days.

We’ve got a solid run of swell coming in, but the winds are going to be the real story. The first few days are the clear standouts for the whole period, so if you’ve got a window, that’s where you want to be.

Friday, July 24th is the pick of the whole forecast. The morning is absolute glass, dead calm, with a 8ft SSW groundswell rolling in on a 15-second period. That’s a proper long-period groundswell, bringing serious energy (2371) and great shape. This is expert territory at that size, so don't be shy about your experience. The water is a comfortable 60°, bang on average for this time of year. The afternoon goes a little cross, but the morning window is pure magic.

Saturday, July 25th is another cracker. Clean, cross-off winds all day. The swell drops a touch to 6ft from the SSW, but it’s still got a nice 13-second period and plenty of energy (1716). Perfect for intermediate surfers who want a piece of the action without the Friday morning freight train.

Sunday, July 26th morning is glassy again, but the swell is easing down to 5ft. Still a nice little wave, but the energy is dropping (717). The afternoon gets a bit of a cross-shore bump.

The Monday through Wednesday stretch sees the wind picking up. It’s a moderate breeze from the SE, which is cross-off and cleans it up, but it’s also blowing 15 mph. The swell is still pumping, hitting 8ft on Monday afternoon with a massive 3217 energy reading, but strong wind and big surf make it a tricky, choppy combo. More for the experienced crew with a high tolerance for a bumpy session.

Wednesday, July 30th is a nice little breather. Light offshore winds in the morning, swell down to 4ft, but the energy is weak (585). A clean, smaller day for a longboard or a funboard.

Things get a bit patchy after that. There are a few glassy mornings and clean afternoons on August 1st and 2nd with 3ft to 4ft swell, but the energy is low. The real standout in the second week is Tuesday, August 5th. An early morning window shows a 7ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period and a massive 2233 energy reading, but the wind is a cross-shore from the NNW at 9 mph, creating a cross-chop. That’s a big, powerful, messy wave for experts only. The afternoon gets worse with onshore winds. The rest of the second week is a mix of increasing onshore winds and smaller, weaker swell, with nothing else worth a special mention.

For the first few days, the beach and reef setup at Strand (Pipe) will be handling the long-period SSW swell well. That long period can make a beach break a bit too straight, but the reef offers some shape. Just be aware that the bigger days (over 8ft) are for experts only.

The crowds are a "sometimes" thing here, so on the good days, expect company.

Rusty.

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