Tengan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell you what’s shaping up around here. Look, I’ll be straight with you—this 16-day window is a tough one for any kind of real surf. We’ve got Tengan on the radar, but honestly, it’s a bit of a quiet stretch and you’ll need to be patient.

Starting off right now, from Thursday the 23rd of July right through to the start of August, it’s pretty flat and messy. Swells are barely breaking 1ft – mostly from the ENE or SE – with poor surf conditions and scores that wouldn’t get you out of bed. The water temp is sitting at 83°F, which is basically what you’d expect for this time of year, so that’s fine, but the waves just aren’t there. Winds are mostly cross-onshore or light, not doing us any favours. There’s a stretch of nearly a week and a half here with nothing worth recommending.

Now, things start to show a little pulse of life around Sunday the 2nd of August. That’s when the combined energy climbs to 60 (weak), but by Sunday afternoon we see it jump to 133 (moderate wave energy) with a 2ft swell from the E. The period drops to a long 16-17 seconds – that’s solid groundswell energy, but the cross-onshore wind is going to chop it up. Still, it’s a glimmer.

The standout window, if you can call it that, is Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th of August. Monday morning picks up a 3ft easterly swell with a 15-second period – combined energy of 456 (moderate to strong) – so there’s some push. But the wind is onshore, keeping it lumpy. Monday afternoon we see 4ft from the east, period 19 seconds (very long-period groundswell), and energy skyrockets to 864. That’s real power. Tuesday the 4th morning gets even bigger: 6ft easterly swell, 19-second period, energy at 2048 (strong). Tuesday afternoon holds 6ft from the east, 18 seconds, energy at 2139.

Now, this is where I have to be honest: that’s a lot of swell for Tengan, but the wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, and the break is a reef that’s inconsistent. Those long period east swells can be tricky on a reef break, but they’ll definitely bring shape. The problem is the onshore wind – it’s going to be choppy and messy. For experts only at that size – 6ft is too much for beginners. And with the wind being a problem, it’s marginal at best. The crowd potential is "sometimes", so you might find a few others out if you’re keen.

Tuesday afternoon is probably the best of a rough bunch, but I’d call it a "marginal" option. After that, Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th see the swell drop and the wind gets more aggressive – 12-16 mph from the SSE with risk of thunderstorms. That’s more kite-surfing territory than anything else. By Friday the 7th, it’s back to under 3ft and messy cross-shore winds.

So, to wrap it up: expect a long flat spell until Sunday the 2nd of August, then a window of moderate-to-strong swell on Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th. If you’re an experienced surfer and don’t mind onshore chop, Tuesday the 4th has the most size and energy (6ft, 18 seconds, 2139 energy), but don’t expect perfection. Beyond that, it fades out again. Keep an eye on the forecasts – things can change.

Rusty.

Read more