Tamarama Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but there’s some good stuff building. The first proper session to get excited about is Monday morning the 20th of July at Tamarama Reef. It’s an exposed reef break that likes swell from the SE, and we’ve got a solid 6ft ENE groundswell with an 11-second period pushing through. The combined energy is sitting at 778 (moderate wave energy), and with a light WNW cross-off breeze, conditions should be clean. Water temp is 63°, which is about average for this time of year—nothing weird going on there. This is an advanced spot and it’s inconsistent, so you need to pick your moment, but Monday morning looks like that moment.

Monday afternoon gets a bit messy with a NE cross breeze and a score that drops right off, so don’t hang around too long.

Tuesday morning the 21st brings smaller 4ft ENE swell with a 10-second period and light NNW cross-off winds, still clean but less energy (376). It’s surfable but nothing special.

Wednesday the 22nd has a smaller 3ft ENE swell in the morning with WSW cross-off, and by afternoon we get glassy conditions with a WSW breeze at only 3 mph and 3ft of swell. Glassy is always a major positive—clean faces—but the size is pretty small (combined energy 183). It’s ordinary but could be a fun little session if you’re keen.

Thursday the 23rd is a write-off: tiny swell and fresh breezes.

Now here’s the real standout: Friday morning the 24th of July. A new 6ft S swell rolls in with a 9-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 500 (moderate wave energy). The wind is W at 9 mph, cross-off, and it’s clean. This is the best on offer in the near term. Tamarama Reef is exposed to this southerly energy and with light offshore flow, it should really turn on. This is the one to aim for.

Friday afternoon sees the swell drop a little to 4ft with a 10-second period and a light N cross-off, still decent but not as good as the morning.

Saturday the 25th is a no-go: strong WSW winds at 19 mph in the morning mess things up, despite some S groundswell hanging around.

Sunday morning the 26th of July delivers again. A 5ft S swell at 11 seconds (520 combined energy) and WSW cross-off at 9 mph—clean, solid, and worth getting wet for. This is another strong option. But by Sunday afternoon the wind swings SE onshore and the quality goes.

Monday the 27th is okay: 4ft SSE swell, light W cross-off, clean, but not a standout.

The rest of the week and into the start of August sees a mix of messy onshore winds and building southerly swell. Thursday the 30th of July has a big 8ft S swell with a 12-second period—combined energy of 3308 (strong wave energy)—but it’s cross-shore with a cross-chop and that size is only for experts. Then we see it drop back but stay on the bigger side through to the 1st of August, but the wind stays poor: mostly cross-on or onshore. There’s potential for those who can handle big, messy conditions, but for clean surfing it’s not ideal.

So to wrap it up: your best bets are Friday morning the 24th and Sunday morning the 26th of July at Tamarama Reef. Smaller glassy windows on Wednesday the 22nd afternoon are worth a look if you’re local and don’t mind small waves.

Stay keen, stay salty.
Rusty

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