Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, it’s a bit of a flat start for Tunnels, but hang in there – there’s a pulse building in the second half of the outlook that could get interesting.

We’re kicking off Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th with tiny, weak 0.8m swell out of the east at a short 8-9 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 186 (134-164), and with a cross-off or cross wind blowing 15 km/h, it’s pretty ordinary – clean but no grunt. Not worth paddling out.

Friday the 21st sees a little lift, with 1.1m from the NE on Friday morning and 1.0m ENE in the arvo. Period drops to 7 seconds, but energy climbs to a weak 203. Winds are light at 10 km/h, and the morning is cross-shore with slight chop, arvo cleans up to cross-off. Still, it’s surfable but very ordinary.

Saturday the 22nd turns more interesting with a 1.0m WNW swell arriving, period jumping to 12 seconds – that’s groundswell with longer gaps between sets. Combined energy hits 353-403 (moderate). Winds stay cross-off at 15-20 km/h, keeping it clean. This isn’t big, but the longer period means better shape at this reef. It’s only marginal though, and the swell direction (WNW) is off the optimum N for Tunnels, so the waves might not line up perfectly.

Sunday the 23rd brings 1.4m from the east at a short 7 seconds, energy at 346-389. Morning is clean with cross-off at 20 km/h, but arvo picks up to 25 km/h cross-shore with chop. Still, nothing special.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th see the swell nudge up to 2-1.9m east, periods short at 7-8 seconds. Energy hits moderate 414-650. Winds are moderate 25 km/h cross-shore or cross-off. The surf is poor to marginal – messy, and those short-period windswells won’t wrap in clean.

From Wednesday the 26th through Saturday the 30th, we’re stuck in a rut: 1.2m to 1.5m east swells, short 6-7 second periods, constant cross-off or cross winds at 15-20 km/h. Energy weak to moderate (139-286). Clean conditions, but no power. Not worth getting excited about.

Then the real standout appears: Tuesday the 1st of September. Swell builds to 1.7m from the ENE, and the period jumps to 11 seconds in the afternoon. Combined energy surges to a very strong 1229. Winds are gentle at 15 km/h and cross-off, keeping it clean. That’s a solid groundswell with real push. For Tunnels, with its optimal N direction, this ENE isn’t perfect, but the long period will wrap in and the reef will shape up nicely. This is the best session on offer.

Wednesday the 2nd of September goes up a notch: 2.5m east swell at 13 seconds – very long-period groundswell. Energy is very strong at 2152-2185. This is expert territory over 2.5m. The afternoon looks best with cross-off at 25 km/h keeping it clean. The caveat: with such a long period, the sets will be spaced out, but on this reef, the wave shape will be incredible. Only for the confident.

Thursday the 3rd of September holds at 2.3m from the ENE at 11 seconds, energy still strong at 1406. Wind is moderate cross-off. Another solid day but the swell is easing.

Overall, the first week is a write-off. The second week fires up, with Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd being the true standouts – clean, powerful, and long-period. Just watch the size and the crowds (Tunnels can get busy).

Water temps are about average for this time of year – nothing unusual.

Rusty.

Read more