Tongo Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with the long-range outlook for Tongo Reef. Let’s get straight into it.

We’re kicking off Wednesday morning with a mixed bag. The water is sitting at 78°, which is a whopping 8° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s seriously unusual, so you’ll be surfing in a warm bath. The swell is small, only 4ft from the SSE with a short period of 8 seconds and the combined energy is moderate at 452. It’s clean with a cross-off breeze, but honestly, it’s pretty marginal. The wind stays cross-off all day, but the afternoon sees the energy drop a bit to 374. It’s not really firing.

Thursday morning sees a shift. The swell direction swings to the southwest and the period jumps to 18 seconds – that’s proper long-period groundswell. The height is 4ft, but the energy is strong at 1115. It’s a bit of a tease because the forecast still calls it marginal. The cross-off wind from the SSE at 9 mph keeps things clean. Thursday afternoon picks up to 4ft and the energy jumps to 1307. This is the kind of swell that’s best suited for a reef like this, but the conditions are still holding back the full potential.

Friday morning looks like the first real standout. We’ve got 5ft of SW swell at 16 seconds, with a combined energy of 1405 – that’s strong. The wind is a gentle SSE breeze at 9 mph, cross-off and clean. This is the best on offer in the first week. The afternoon holds similar size and energy, though the wind picks up a notch to 12 mph.

Saturday through Monday sees the swell ease back to 4ft to 4ft, still from the SW, periods around 14 to 15 seconds. The energy stays moderate to strong, but the wind is a steady cross-off, keeping things rideable. The whole stretch is plagued by a “marginal” tag, so don’t expect perfection.

Tuesday the 18th brings a bump in size to 6ft, but the period drops back to a short 8 seconds from the SSE. That’s junky, onshore-directed energy, and the cross-off wind won’t save it. This one’s for experts only at that size if you’re determined, but it’s not great.

From Wednesday the 19th through to Saturday the 22nd, we hover around 4ft to 6ft from the SSE, with periods between 8 and 10 seconds. The wind is cross-off and clean. On Thursday the 20th morning, the forecast actually calls for “very good surf conditions” – that’s a rare positive note. The swell is 5ft from the SSE, period 10 seconds, energy 533. It’s the cleanest of the bunch, but the energy is only moderate.

After the 22nd, the swell drops off hard. Sunday the 23rd sees 2ft to 2ft from the SW, with long periods of 16 to 18 seconds, but the energy drops to moderate. By Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, we’re down to 2ft, and things get really weak. Not worth a paddle.

The last few days of the outlook, Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th, show a bit of a pulse returning. Wednesday morning has 3ft from the SW at 17 seconds, energy 709, and by Thursday morning we’re back to 4ft from the SW at 16 seconds, energy 1198. That’s promising, but it’s 10 days out – keep an eye on it.

Overall, the best on offer is Friday the 14th morning with 5ft of SW groundswell, strong energy, and clean conditions. Thursday the 20th morning is another good shout for clean, good surf. Crowds are possible at Tongo Reef, so be prepared for company.

Stay stoked, and check the charts before you head out.

Rusty.

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