Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Tunnels over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, straight up, this is a tough stretch. We’ve got a long run of poor to marginal surf conditions here. The first solid week offers very little to get excited about. From Wednesday the 26th of August through to the end of the month, the swell is small and weak, mostly coming from the east at around 3ft to 5ft, with a short, weak period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is low, sitting between 131 and 318 (weak to moderate energy). The wind is a cross-off or cross-shore breeze, which keeps the surface clean sometimes, but the waves are just gutless and messy. It’s really not worth paddling out for.

We roll into September, and the first week continues the same story. From the 1st to the 7th, we see a slight bump in size, with waves up to 6ft, but the period stays short at 7-8 seconds and the wind is mostly cross-shore or cross-onshore, creating chop. The scores are zeroes and ones, and the combined energy climbs to the 300-400 range (moderate to strong), but without the right wind or shape, it’s just a messy, uninviting lineup. The 6th of September has a risk of thunderstorms and a 6ft east-northeast swell with 7-second period, but the cross-shore wind makes it a churned-up mess. Not ideal for a paddle. The 7th and 8th see the wind swing fully cross-onshore from the north-northeast, making things even rougher.

Then, on Wednesday the 9th of September, the wind shifts to the west, and we see a 3ft swell from the northwest with a long 13-second period. The energy is strong at 421, but the wind is cross-onshore, so the quality is poor. It’s a tease of what could be.

Finally, we get a glimmer of hope. On Thursday the 10th of September, the forecast shows a 5ft east-northeast swell with an 8-second period and combined energy of 586 (strong). The wind is glassy – dead calm, 0 mph. That’s the standout. The guidance says “expect very good surf conditions,” and with clean, glassy conditions, this is the only real window. The swell is 5ft, which is fine for intermediate and advanced surfers, but it’s a bit punchy for beginners. The period is moderate, so the waves should have some push. This is the one day to circle. The northeast swell direction is a good match for the optimum swell direction from the north.

But remember, this is a reef break, and it’s a consistent spot, so it’ll hold the swell. Tunnels is a known spot, and while it’s not the biggest wave, the glassy conditions will make it pure. It’s also a break that can get crowded sometimes, so expect company.

The rest of the 10th and the days after look like a return to the same pattern of poor conditions. The long-range forecast for the 11th onward is low confidence, but the pattern suggests it’s not going to turn around quickly.

So, the bottom line: the first 15 days are a write-off unless you’re desperate for a paddle. The one true standout is Thursday the 10th of September, with clean, glassy conditions and a solid 5ft swell. That’s your window.

Rusty.

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