Tea Break Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – the next 16 days at Tea Break (a reef setup) are a tough watch. The whole period is a no-go for decent surfing. The swell is coming from the east, but the wind is a persistent cross-shore, never swinging offshore or glassy to clean things up.

Tuesday 28 July kicks it off with a small 3 ft east swell, but the 9 mph cross-wind keeps it choppy and messy – surf quality is poor. The combined energy is weak at 105. The water is 83°, which is about average for this time of year.

We roll through Wednesday 29 July morning with still only 3 ft and cross-wind, and by the afternoon the wind picks up to 19 mph, bumping the swell to 6 ft. That’s more size, but the fresh cross-breeze creates a lumpy, ugly surface – not a wave you want to paddle into.

Thursday 30 July morning sees 5 ft, afternoon jumps to 7 ft with 19 mph cross-wind, energy up to 353 (moderate), but it’s all blown out. The 7-second period is short, meaning weak, crumbly faces.

Friday 31 July through to Sunday 9 August is the same story: swell between 3 ft and 5 ft, always cross-shore wind, often 12-19 mph, and the wave comment is consistently “poor surf conditions.” The energy stays moderate at best, but the wind ruins every session. The swell direction is east, not matching the optimum NNE direction for this reef, so it’s never lining up properly.

Monday 10 August to Wednesday 12 August sees the period drop to 5-6 seconds – that’s short-period windswell, even weaker and less organised. The waves are just bumpy, unappealing slop. The last few days have energy values as low as 68 and 70 (very weak).

There is no standout session here. Not one morning or afternoon offers clean, well-shaped surf. The wind is relentless, always cross or cross-chop, and the swell direction is off. Even the slightly bigger days (around 7 ft) are just messy and blown out.

If you’re a surfer, leave the board at home. This setup, with the constant cross-wind and poor quality, actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The reef holds shape, but with the wind and swell direction against it, you’re fighting a losing battle.

Rusty.

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