The Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's break this down for the next couple of weeks at The Reef.

Honestly, looking at the whole 16-day window, it’s a real mixed bag. There’s some decent swell building in the second week, but the wind is going to be a constant issue. This spot is a reef setup, exposed to the northwest, and the best direction is a clean north-west swell. The water temp is sitting right around 67°F, which is pretty much where it should be for this time of year.

The first week-and-a-bit is a write-off for any kind of decent surf. From Saturday the 4th of July right through to the morning of Friday the 17th of July, it’s a long, frustrating stretch of poor conditions. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, and when it does pop a little bit, the wind is a messy cross or cross-on shore from the north-northwest. It’s constantly choppy or lumpy, and you’ll be fighting a bumpy ocean for nothing.

The first real glimmer of hope arrives on Saturday morning, the 18th of July. Now listen, this isn't epic, but it’s the standout of the whole forecast. The wind goes completely glassy, dead calm from the west, and that’s huge. You’ll have a clean, smooth surface on a 3ft swell from the northwest, with an 8-second period. Just be aware, this spot can get crowded, so you’ll have some company.

Then on Sunday morning the 19th of July, there’s a bit more size, pushing 4ft from the northwest. But the wind swings to a light cross-on from the south-southwest. It’s still surfable, and it’s a better wave size, but it won’t have that same perfect, silky finish as the Saturday morning session.

So, my pick is simple: if you can only get out once, make it Saturday morning the 18th of July. It’s the only time in the whole run where the conditions line up for a genuinely clean surf. The Sunday has more push but a bit of wind chop to deal with. The rest of the window is a no-go.

Rusty

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