Third Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let's break down what Third Reef has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, the first part is a real slog, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel if you're willing to wait.

Right off the bat, we've got a big dry spell. From now through the afternoon of Saturday, July 13th, you can pretty much hang up your board. The wind is mostly a messy cross-onshore, and the wave energy is weak and disorganized. The swell is tiny and confused. You get a tiny window on the afternoon of Saturday the 4th where it goes glassy with a 4ft NW swell, but it's a short period at 8 seconds, and you'd be really working for a ride. Nothing to write home about.

After that long wait, we finally get some payoff. The absolute standout, the session you need to plan for, is Tuesday, July 14th. We're looking at a solid 5ft to 6ft groundswell pushing in from the NW, with a combined energy of 647, showing some proper moderate power in the water. But the wind is the real story. Tuesday morning we get a clean, light cross-offshore breeze, and by Tuesday afternoon it goes dead calm and glassy. For a reef, that's perfection. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so a 3/2 wetsuit is all you'll need. Keep in mind, this spot can get crowded sometimes, so you'll want to beat the pack.

Another one to keep an eye on is Wednesday, July 15th, in the afternoon. We've got a 7ft NW swell with a short 6-second period and a combined energy of 977 – that's a lot of water moving. The wind is glassy from the WNW at 3 mph, making for clean conditions. Because it's over 8ft, this one is strictly for the experts. Beginners, it's a no-go.

Then on Thursday, July 16th, we get a long-period groundswell from the WNW. It's smaller, around 2ft to 3ft, but with a very long 18-second period. The combined energy sits at 671 for the morning. The morning will be glassy with a light wind from the W at 3 mph, giving you some beautifully clean, long lines. This long-period swell will be best right on the reef, as it might straighten out at a beach break. The afternoon picks up a light cross-onshore ripple, so get out there early.

So bottom line: the first week and a half is a bust. The absolute best session on the books is Tuesday, July 14th, with that glassy afternoon. Wednesday, July 15th afternoon is a solid choice for the advanced guys, and the morning of Thursday, July 16th offers up some super clean, long-period walls.

Hang in there, the good stuff is coming.

Rusty

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