Temples Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the cards for Temples over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid run of consistent, clean SW groundswell coming our way, but don’t go expecting perfection every day. The water is sitting at 80° F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The real story is that we are locked into a persistent offshore wind pattern, which is a massive positive for this exposed reef and point setup.

The first few days, from Wednesday the 8th through Saturday the 11th, are all about solid, powerful swell. We’re talking 5 ft to 7 ft of SSW groundswell with periods of 14 to 16 seconds, and the combined energy is strong, sitting between 1159 and 2023. However, the guidance flags these as marginal due to the wind being a fresh 19 to 19 mph from the ESE. That wind is offshore, which is clean, but that strength brings a bit of a chop. It’s surfable, but it’s not the cream of the crop.

We get a bit of a drop-off on Sunday the 12th. The swell fades to 3 ft to 3 ft, and the energy drops away to a weak 369-454. The wind eases to a moderate 12 mph offshore, so the conditions are cleaner, but the lack of push makes it a poor call. You’d be fighting for scraps.

Now, Monday the 13th is a real curveball. The swell size is tiny at 2 ft to 3 ft, but the period jumps to a massive 23 seconds in the morning and 21 seconds in the afternoon. That is an exceptionally long period groundswell, and it creates a lot of energy for its size, with readings of 613 and 1047. This is a true connoisseur’s wave. It will wrap deep and clean, but with that super-long period, it might close out on a beach break, but at Temples (a reef and point), it should set up beautifully. The wind is a moderate 16 mph offshore. If you’re an experienced surfer, this is the quiet, underrated session of the run.

Tuesday the 14th through Wednesday the 15th sees the swell kick back up to 6 ft to 6 ft, with strong energy readings from 1627 to 2580, but the wind remains a fresh offshore, keeping it a little bumpy. It’s good, but not great. This pattern of fresh offshore wind and moderate to strong SSW swell holds through to the 16th and 17th.

Then we hit a lovely window from Saturday the 18th through Sunday the 19th. The swell settles to a very manageable 4 ft to 5 ft from the SW, with a moderate 12-16 mph offshore breeze. The energy is still solid at 721-1001, and the comments start calling it “very good.” This is the sweet spot for the intermediate crew.

The week starting Monday the 20th has a blip of rain showers, but the wind stays offshore. Then things get interesting for the last few days. On Tuesday the 21st of July, the swell jumps to 8 ft to 8 ft from the SSW, and the combined energy hits 2659 to 3692. That is strong, powerful water. This is for experts only, no question. It’s a beast.

But the real standout of the whole forecast is Thursday the 23rd of July. The swell is still a solid 6 ft from the SSW, but the wind drops to a gentle 9 mph offshore, leaving the surface glassy. The energy is a strong 1375-1520. The guidance calls it “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” The wind is so light it’s almost glassy, the swell has good period, and the direction is right in the SW sweet spot. That morning session is the one to circle on the calendar, though we are a couple of weeks out, so keep an eye on the long-range models.

The only downside: crowds. Temples can get them “sometimes,” so with a run of consistent, clean surf, expect company.

The Verdict: If you want the pick of the bunch for the average surfer, aim for the weekend of the 18th-19th for clean, manageable waves. But if you’re an experienced hand chasing quality and power, the Thursday the 23rd of July morning is the absolute prize – light wind, solid groundswell, and clean lines. For beginners, the swell is mostly too big and powerful, especially from the 8th-11th and again on the 21st. You’ll want to sit this one out.

Rusty.

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