The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into what’s on the table for The Heads over the next couple of weeks.

This forecast is a bit of a slow burner, but the longer we wait, the more the ocean starts to flex. Right now, there’s a solid mix of SW groundswell on the horizon, but a lot of the early days are being held back by tricky wind and tide issues. The real roar is going to come in the second week, but that’s shaping up for the experienced crew only.

The Heads (sandbar) is a fairly consistent spot, and it’s fairly exposed to the swell. The water temp is sitting at 63.9°F, which is about 0.9°F warmer than usual for this time of year—nothing wild, just a touch on the mild side.

We kick off on Saturday, July 18th with a light cross-on breeze and a 4.6 ft swell from the southwest at 10 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (723), but conditions are marginal, and the tide is being a pain. It’s a pass for me.

Sunday morning, July 19th sees a bit more size at 5.2 ft from the SW, now with a 12-second period, but it’s still cross-shore and the report says it’s marginal. By Sunday afternoon, the wind kicks up to 16 mph and the swell jumps to 8.2 ft, but it’s a messy cross-chop (1297 energy). That’s a hard no.

Monday, July 20th is a tale of two halves. The morning has a 5.9 ft SW swell (11 seconds) with a light cross-on, still marginal. But keep an eye on the Monday afternoon session: the wind goes light offshore from the SSW, the swell drops to 3.9 ft, and it shifts to a 12-second SE direction. The energy is still moderate (909), but the glassy conditions could make this a sneaky clean wave if the tide lines up.

Tuesday, July 21st is a tease. The swell is building nicely—5.6 ft in the morning, 7.9 ft in the afternoon—and the period stretches to 14 seconds (groundswell). That’s a proper long-period setup, but the wind is cross-shore from the ESE. The energy jumps from 1611 to 2403, so there’s power, but the conditions aren’t letting it shine.

Wednesday morning, July 22nd is still cross-shore with a 6.9 ft SW swell. Then Wednesday afternoon hits—and this is the first real standout. Glassy conditions, 5.9 ft of SW swell with a 12-second period, and the energy is a solid 1070. The wind is dead calm. This is your session for smooth, clean lines. The tide is favorable, and the waves will be peeling nicely.

Thursday, July 23rd is back to marginal with a 7.9 ft morning and 6.9 ft afternoon, cross-shore or cross-on winds. Nothing special.

Friday, July 24th is where things get serious. The morning brings a 11.5 ft SSW swell with a 15-second period—that’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is massive (5017). But the wave comment says it’s too big for this break. The Heads is a sandbar, and with that much juice, it’s going to be a washing machine. The wind is light cross-shore, so it’s clean, but this is for experts only. Afternoon is still 9.8 ft (3584 energy), same story.

Saturday, July 25th morning is a real highlight for the experienced surfer. Glassy conditions, 8.2 ft of SSW swell at 13 seconds, and a combined energy of 2370. The report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a window where the size is manageable, the wind is off, and the ocean has power. The afternoon drops to 7.9 ft with a cross-shore breeze, still good but less clean.

Sunday, July 26th chills out. Light NNE wind in the morning, glassy, with a 4.3 ft SW swell (12 seconds). In the afternoon, it’s dead calm with a 4.6 ft SW swell (11 seconds). Energy is 792 to 987. This is a lovely, relaxed day for a longboard or a funboard. No crowds mentioned, but it’s a Sunday, so expect some company.

Monday

Read more