Tuncurry-North Wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Tuncurry-North Wall over the next couple of weeks.

First off, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next ten days or so are looking pretty grim. The water temp’s sitting at about 67°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, but that’s about the only thing that’s normal. The swell’s tiny, there’s hardly any energy in the water (combined energy is mostly in the teens and twenties), and the wind’s all over the place. We’re looking at a solid stretch from Thursday the 10th right through to the 19th where there’s just nothing worth paddling out for. It’s a big dry spell.

There’s a tiny glimmer around Saturday the 12th morning – you’ll get a 0.3m ENE swell with a period of 14 seconds and glassy conditions. That’s a long period groundswell, so the waves will have some shape, but it’s tiny. A long period swell like that can break straight on a beach setup, and Tuncurry’s more of a beach/breakwater spot, so don’t expect much. Combined energy is only 39, so it’s weak. Still, if you’re desperate and you’ve got a longboard, that’s your best window for a clean, quiet paddle.

Then we’ve got a bit of a jump in size around Tuesday the 22nd. The morning of the 22nd sees a 1.2m SE swell, period 10 seconds, with combined energy hitting 300 – that’s moderate wave energy. Conditions are marginal, but by Tuesday afternoon the wind goes glassy, and the swell is still 1.2m, though it’s from the NE with a short period of 5 seconds. That’s short period, so the waves won’t have much push. The combined energy drops to 68, so it’s weak. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

The real standout, and I mean the only one that gets my blood pumping, is Thursday the 24th in the afternoon. We’re looking at a 2.5m NE swell, period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy is a solid 601 – that’s strong wave energy. Now, this is a big one. 2.5m on a beach/breakwater like Tuncurry is going to be heavy, and with a short period like that, it’ll be a bit messy and punchy. This is definitely expert territory – too big for beginners. The wind is light onshore, so it won’t be clean, but the power is there. It’s a long way out, so take it with a grain of salt, but if you’re a charger, keep an eye on that date.

Then Friday the 25th morning offers a silver lining: a 1.1m NE swell, period 7 seconds, with a fresh offshore wind from the WSW blowing at 30 km/h. That’s clean, offshore conditions, and the combined energy is 242 – moderate. The waves will be a lot more organised, and 1.1m is a fun size, not too big. That’s the best bet in the second week for a proper session.

So, in short: the next ten days are a write-off. The 22nd is ordinary but surfable. The real hopes are on the 24th afternoon for the big stuff (for experts only) and the 25th morning for clean, fun waves. After that, the forecast runs out. Keep checking back – things can change.

Rusty.

Read more