The Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking.

Honestly, it’s a pretty lean stretch for the next 16 days. The Jetty’s offering up a lot of flat, weak, and messy conditions. The water’s a balmy 77°, which is *much warmer than normal* – more than 4° above the usual for this time of year. That’s a big anomaly. But the swell? It’s barely ticking over.

We kick off Thursday 16 July morning with a tiny 0.7ft from ESE, a short 8-second period, and combined energy of just 11 – that’s weak. Light crosswind, no good. Thursday afternoon shows 1ft from SSW, but the period plummets to 4 seconds – just wind chop. Friday 17 July is similar: 1ft and 1ft, short periods, cross and onshore winds. Saturday 18 July afternoon sees a little bump to 4ft from S, but the period is only 5 seconds and the wind is cross-on, so it’s a choppy mess. Energy reaches 69 – still weak.

Sunday 19 July afternoon is the first real ray of hope. We get 2ft from SSE with a 7-second period, and a moderate offshore wind from NW cleans it up. The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – a 1 out of 10, but it’s the best so far. Energy is 61.

Monday 20 July and Tuesday 21 July slide back into onshore, lumpy, and small. Wednesday 22 July morning shows 3ft from SSE with an 8-second period, energy hitting 105 (moderate), and a cross-off wind from NNW keeping it clean. The afternoon is similar with a light cross-off. Both are called “surfable but very ordinary” – still a 1. It’s rideable, but nothing special.

Thursday 23 July brings a size increase: 4ft from NE and ENE, but the period is short (5-6 seconds) and the wind is a fresh cross, making it lumpy. Energy gets up to 189, but the wind ruins it.

Friday 24 July morning has a clean 2ft from SE with a 7-second period – light cross-off, so it’s decent. Still a 1. Then Saturday 25 July morning is the standout of the whole run. We get 4ft from SE with a 9-second period, energy 234 (moderate), and a light cross-off wind from WSW. That’s clean, and the longer period means better shape. The afternoon gets blown out by a 25 km/h cross-on wind and 6ft of messy swell. That morning window is your best chance.

From Sunday 26 July through Wednesday 30 July, it’s all small, onshore, and choppy – 2ft to 3ft, weak energy, nothing worth chasing. Thursday 30 July and Friday 31 July are similar – small, cross-off or cross-on, still poor.

The Jetty is a sandbar break, fairly consistent, and best for beginners. The ideal swell direction is SE, and we do see that, but the quality is lacking. The standout is Saturday 25 July morning – 4ft from SE with a 9-second period and light offshore wind – that’s the cleanest, most surfable window. But it’s not big, and it’s brief. For the rest, it’s a waiting game. Forecasts can shift, but right now, it’s a lot of nothing for a little something.

Rusty.

Read more