The Gallows Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve only got one spot on the radar for this outlook, and it’s a serious one. The Gallows is the only game in town, and it’s not for the faint of heart.

Right now, the swell is pumping, but it’s way too big. Sunday the 19th of July is seeing a solid 10-foot swell from the WSW with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 3929 – that’s some serious power. The wind is a cross-on SW breeze at 9 mph, so it’s going to be a bit choppy and messy. This is advanced territory only, and honestly, the forecast says it’s too big for the break. The water is sitting at 67°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year.

Monday the 20th looks a bit of a write-off. The wind swings onshore, and the swell is still up around 7 to 8 feet, but the conditions are just poor. The scores are dreadful, and I wouldn’t bother.

Tuesday the 21st is cross-shore, but the wind is still gusty, and the swell is over 8 feet. It’s marginal, with a combined energy of 2066 – still plenty of grunt, but the quality isn’t there.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday the 22nd is the standout. The morning brings a light offshore E wind at 6 mph, and the swell is 8 feet from the SW with a 13-second period. The energy is up at 4139, and it’s clean. That’s excellent surf for experienced surfers. The afternoon is even bigger, with 12-foot swell and a 15-second period, but the wind stays light offshore from the ESE. The energy jumps to 4553, and it’s still clean. This is the best on offer, but it’s heavy, so only the experts should be out there.

Thursday the 23rd is good too, with a cross-offshore breeze from the NE and clean conditions. The swell drops a bit to 8 feet in the morning and 7 feet in the afternoon, with a 14-second and 13-second period respectively. The energy is still solid at 2173, and it’s clean. A solid day for advanced surfers.

Friday the 24th is a bit smaller, with 6 to 6-foot swell, but the wind is light and cross-offshore from the NNE. The energy is down to 900 and 1020, but it’s clean and fun. This is a good end-of-week option.

Saturday the 25th sees the swell drop a little more to 5 to 6 feet, and the wind is still cross-offshore from the NNE. The energy is moderate, around 855 to 986, and it’s clean. This is a decent day for a paddle.

Sunday the 26th is a write-off – the wind picks up to 19 mph from the north, creating a lumpy cross-shore chop. The swell is small and weak, but the conditions are rubbish.

Monday the 27th sees a big swell return, 10 feet, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making it messy and too big. The energy is over 3000, but it’s not worth it.

From Tuesday the 28th all the way through to the end of the period on Monday the 3rd of August, conditions deteriorate. The wind is either onshore, cross-onshore, or howling from the west and south-west, with gusts up to 40 mph. The swell is all over the place, from 6 feet to 18 feet, but the energy is through the roof – on the 31st of July, it hits 14846, which is insane. But it’s all blown out, choppy, and dangerous. This is strictly for the brave or the foolish. Honestly, with that kind of wind and swell, a break like The Gallows is looking more interesting for kiteboarding than paddle surfing.

So, to wrap it up: your best bet is Wednesday the 22nd, with that clean offshore wind and solid, powerful swell. Thursday and Friday are also good options if you’re an experienced surfer. The rest of the 16 days is pretty much a washout, with a long gap of poor conditions from the 26th of July through to the 3rd of August.

Stay safe out there, and don’t be a hero if it’s too big.

Rusty.

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