Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf lined up for the next couple of weeks at Strand (Pipe). It’s a beach and reef setup that’s exposed to the south-west, so it catches the lion’s share of what’s coming. The first few days are the real standout, with clean, strong groundswell and glassy conditions. Here’s how it shakes out.

The action kicks off Friday morning the 24th of July. It’s glassy, dead calm, and the swell is a punchy 8 ft from the SSW with a very long period of 15 seconds. The combined energy is really pumping at 2371 (moderate to strong energy). This is proper groundswell, and with that period, it’ll be lining up nicely on the reef. It’s expert territory at that size, so only for the experienced crew. The water temp is about average for the time of year. Friday afternoon sees the wind shift to a light cross from the south at 6 mph, and the swell drops a touch to 7 ft, still with good period. It’s a bit more marginal for tide, but still rideable.

Saturday morning the 25th of July is another beauty. Glassy conditions with a light ESE breeze, and the swell holds at 6 ft from the SSW with a 13-second period. It’s clean, solid, and the energy is still strong (1590). Saturday afternoon stays clean with a cross-offshore SSE wind, same size swell, but the period drops to 12 seconds. Still very good.

Sunday the 26th of July is a treat. Morning is dead calm, glassy, and the swell eases to 5 ft from the SW with a 14-second period. The energy is moderate (664). It’s clean, fun, and much more manageable. Sunday afternoon stays glassy with the same size and a 14-second period, energy up slightly to 720. This is the sweet spot for intermediate surfers.

Monday and Tuesday (27th & 28th of July) get a bit messy. The swell picks up again to 6–7 ft from the SSW with long periods of 15–17 seconds, and the energy is through the roof (2856–2373). But the wind is howling from the SE at 16–19 mph, making it cross-offshore but with a lot of chop. It’s marginal, and the conditions are tough. Best left for the keen and experienced.

Wednesday the 29th of July is a return to form. Glassy morning with a light E breeze, swell down to 4 ft from the SSW, 13-second period, moderate energy (660). Very good, clean surf. Afternoon is dead calm, glassy, with 4 ft and 13-second period. Thursday the 30th of July stays glassy, with the swell dropping to 3 ft from the SSW, 12-second period. It’s still clean, but smaller. Friday the 31st of July is small and glassy, with 3 ft from the SW. Surfable, but ordinary.

Saturday the 1st of August is a nice little pulse. Morning is dead calm, glassy, with 4 ft from the SSW, 13-second period, and moderate energy (579). Very good. Afternoon is glassy with a light SSW breeze, 4 ft from the SW. A solid day.

Sunday the 2nd of August blows out. Strong NW wind at 16 mph, cross-shore, with the swell down to 2 ft. Poor. Monday the 3rd of August is small and cross-shore, not worth it.

Then Tuesday the 4th of August brings a clean offshore from the ESE at 9 mph, with 4 ft from the SW, 14-second period. Very good, clean conditions. The rest of the week holds clean, glassy, or light offshore winds, with swell between 5 ft and 5 ft from the SW. The standout here is Wednesday the 5th of August: morning is dead calm, glassy, with 5 ft from the SW, 13-second period, and moderate energy (840). That’s a beauty.

The best on offer is the Friday morning the 24th of July session, with that 8 ft, 15-second groundswell and glassy conditions. For the more moderate surfer, Sunday the 26th of July morning is a winner—clean, glassy, and 5 ft. The gap between the 31st of July and the 1st of August is just a day of small, ordinary waves, and then another poor day on the 2nd of August, but the run after that is very clean.

Rusty.

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