The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

It starts off with some solid, powerful swell, but the winds aren’t playing ball for a few days. Then things ease off, and we get a really nice window of clean, glassy conditions – that’s where the real magic sits. The second week looks promising but a bit more uncertain, with some serious size on the table.

First up, Monday the 27th, we’ve got a solid 8ft SW groundswell rolling in at The Heads (sandbar). The period is a healthy 12 seconds, and with a light, cross-off W wind at 9 mph, it’s clean. The combined energy is strong at 2125. That’s excellent for experienced surfers, but for the average punter, that’s a bit big and powerful. Monday afternoon turns nasty though – that swell jumps to a chunky 10ft, but the wind swings SE onshore at 12 mph, making it cross-on and choppy. Not one for the afternoon session.

Tuesday the 28th is a write-off. We’re still carrying a 8ft SSW swell, but that easterly wind is blowing cross-shore at 12 mph, creating a messy cross-chop. No go.

Wednesday the 29th morning looks better. The swell drops to 6ft from the SW, period 13 seconds, and a light ENE cross-off breeze keeps it clean. Combined energy is 1598 – still a decent push. This is good for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy again.

Now, Thursday the 30th is where it starts to get tasty. Morning sees the swell down to 6ft, but the wind is dead calm – glassy as. Period is 13 seconds, direction is straight SSW, and the energy is 1143. That’s a proper clean, lined-up wave for those who know what they’re doing. Friday the 31st is smaller, around 4ft, with a light cross breeze. It’s okay, but nothing special.

Then we have a bit of a lull. The end of July and start of August is small until Saturday the 1st of August when the wind goes light offshore from the ENE. Swell is only 6ft, but it’s clean. The real standout, though, is Sunday the 2nd. Glassy conditions, a solid 7ft SSW swell with a very long period of 17 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 3148. That’s a proper groundswell, and it’s glassy. For an experienced surfer, that’s the session of the forecast period. The Heads will be handling that size well, and the direction is bang on for the optimum SSE direction. That long period will give plenty of push and long gaps.

Monday the 3rd still holds with a 7ft SW swell, glassy in the morning. Another good one for the experienced crew. Tuesday the 4th drops off with onshore wind.

Second week: Wednesday the 5th has a 3ft SSW groundswell with a 19-second period. That’s really long. It’ll be clean and glassy, but for a sandbar, that super-long period can make the waves close out a bit. Thursday the 6th is more promising – 8ft SW at 15 seconds. That’s proper size again, and glassy in the morning. Friday the 7th is similar, 8ft SW, glassy start. The weekend of the 8th and 9th looks solid – 10ft SW swell on Saturday morning, and 7ft on Sunday, both glassy and clean in the morning.

There’s a big spike on Sunday the 9th afternoon and Monday the 10th. The swell jumps to 12ft and 13ft. That’s extreme. For The Heads, it might be too big. Combined energy is off the charts: 6128 on Monday morning. That’s for experts only, if it’s even rideable.

Water temperature? No anomaly noted, so it’s about average for this time of year.

So, my pick of the lot: The Heads on Sunday, August 2nd morning and afternoon. That 7ft SSW groundswell, 17-second period, glassy winds, and the energy is huge. It’s clean, powerful, and consistent. Expert surfers will be all over it. If you can get out early Thursday the 30th, that’s also a gem.

Rusty

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