The Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s happening at The Bowl over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a tease. The Bowl is a solid advanced reef break that needs a clean NW swell, and for the first few days there’s some energy but the quality is touch-and-go. The best window to paddle out is Thursday morning, July 9th. Swell is a clean 4 ft from the W with a 9-second period, and the wind is a light SSE breeze blowing offshore. That’s going to keep things glassy and lined up. The combined energy is moderate at 231, so there’s some push. It’s a reef break, so that longer period is fine. Keep in mind, crowds are sometimes an issue here, so you might have some company.

The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no icy surprises.

After that Thursday morning, things get messy. The wind swings onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell drops or gets choppy. Friday through Sunday is a write-off for quality waves. Monday morning the 13th sees a tiny 2 ft WNW swell with clean conditions, but it’s really weak—only 53 combined energy—so more of a longboard glide than a proper session.

We get a bit of a pulse on Tuesday morning, July 14th. A 4 ft WNW swell, period stretching to 11 seconds, and light cross-offshore winds keeping it clean. The energy is moderate at 350, so it’s punchy enough. That’s a solid second option, but the tide might be a factor.

After that, it’s a long, flat, or windy run. You’re looking at a gap of nearly a week with nothing worth your time. The swell disappears, the wind is messy, and the combined energy drops into the weak 20s and 30s. There’s a brief moment of glassy conditions on Friday morning, July 17th, but the swell is a tiny 2 ft from the NNE with a 4-second period—barely a ripple.

The story changes in the second week, but not for the better. Around the 22nd and 23rd of July, we see a big spike in swell. Wednesday afternoon the 22nd brings a 8 ft WNW swell with a very long 13-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 2362. That’s powerful groundswell. But the wind is howling onshore from the N at 19 mph, so it’s going to be a messy, blown-out mess. This is expert-only sized, and with the wind, it’s more of a spectacle than a session. The same goes for Thursday the 23rd, with 8 ft WNW swell and 16 mph cross-onshore winds. That’s big, ugly, and dangerous. A reef break in those conditions is not for the faint of heart.

So, the honest call: if you’re looking for a clean, surfable wave, your best bet is Thursday morning, July 9th. The Tuesday morning, July 14th is a solid backup if you’re flexible. Anything beyond that, especially the big swells in the last week, is a no-go for paddle surfing unless you’re a masochist. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing when the wind is up.

Rusty.

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