The Gallows Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's have a look at what's coming our way for The Gallows over the next couple of weeks. This is a solid reef set-up, exposed to the west, so it needs the right swell window and clean conditions to really fire. For the immediate future, you're looking at a bit of a wait, but there are some serious standouts on the horizon if you're patient.

The immediate outlook is pretty grim. We’ve got rain and a cranking cross-onshore wind through Friday the 31st with a 10 ft SW groundswell but the energy is weak, around 5,256. It’s a write-off. Saturday and Sunday the 1st and 2nd of August see the swell bumping up to 10 ft to 15 ft from the SW, with a solid energy reading between 2,677 and 9,249, but it's still predicted to be too big for the break. The wind does clean up though, going cross-offshore and even glassy at times, so the ocean will look beautiful, but the wave itself won't be your friend.

Now, Monday the 3rd of August morning is where we get our first real chance. The swell drops to a much more manageable 7 ft from the SW with a period of 15 seconds – proper groundswell. The combined energy is 1,695, which is moderate, and most importantly, the wind goes glassy, dead calm. This is the standout window for experienced surfers. The break is an advanced reef, so this is not one for the groms or holiday crowd. Water temps are unremarkable for this time of year, so just your average boardshorts or thin steamer gear.

After that window, things get messy again. The wind swings back onshore and the swell pumps up to 11 ft to 13 ft, and the energy rockets up to 8,816 on Wednesday the 5th, but it’s blown out or just too much for the set-up. Thursday the 6th of August is a complete loss with a fresh cross-onshore and lumpy 11 ft swell, and Friday the 7th is just mental with a 20 ft WSW swell showing a combined energy of 32,245 – that’s absolute death or glory heavy water energy. Only for the truly insane or idiots.

The pattern of massive swell and poor wind continues into the second week. Saturday the 8th of August is a near gale cross-onshore with a 23 ft swell. Sunday the 9th is still huge at 21 ft, but the wind backs off to a moderate breeze, but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy. The energy readings are enormous, over 19,000. It's not surfable.

Tuesday the 11th of August and Wednesday the 12th of August are more of the same. We've got a 18 ft SW groundswell with a very long 19-second period on Wednesday morning, giving a combined energy of 20,195, but again it's cross-onshore. The swell is just too damn big and the wind isn't cooperating. This pattern actually looks more suited to a kite surfer than a paddle surfer for the vast majority of this time.

Thursday the 13th of August morning is a tease. The swell drops to 15 ft from the SW with a 17-second period and a light 9 mph north wind giving a clean cross-shore. The energy is still strong at 11,517. It might be the best option all week, but 15 ft on a reef for an advanced spot is still a big, serious day. Then it all falls apart again into the weekend with onshore winds and lumpy conditions.

The reality is, there’s one proper standout here: Monday the 3rd of August morning. The 7 ft SW groundswell with glassy conditions and moderate energy is your only clean, accessible window. The rest of the 16-day run is a story of either too much swell, bad wind, or both. It's a long wait for that one glassy session, but it'll be worth it if you can handle the reef.

Rusty.

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