Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down what’s on the menu for Tunnels over the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, it’s a rough-looking run. For the first week and a half, the wind is just relentless. We’ve got strong cross-off breezes, mostly from the east-northeast, blowing 15 to 22 mph right through the days. Swell is trying to show up—some S to SSW groundswell with decent periods of 14 to 18 seconds—but the wind is killing any chance of clean surf. The wave energy is moderate, hitting around 938 on Wednesday (August 12th) and 914 that afternoon, but the notes say "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions," and it looks like a real fight out there. Not worth paddling out for a proper session.

We get one real window of hope on Tuesday morning, August 18th. The wind drops right off to almost nothing—a light easterly, practically offshore at just 3 mph, and it’s clear skies. The swell is only 3 ft from the south at a 13-second period, so energy is low (162), but the glassy conditions make it a proper clean moment. That’s your best bet unless you’re really keen. The break is fairly consistent and exposed, so there will be waves, but expect some company—crowds are listed as "often." Tunnels is an intermediate spot, so even with the small surf, the clean conditions will be fun for those who know what they’re doing.

After that, it just fades out. The wind cranks back up, the swell stays tiny, and the scores keep coming up as poor or marginal. There’s no real standout in the second week either. Thursday, August 20th, has a small 2 ft SSW swell with a long 18-second period, but the wind is back to around 12-15 mph and cross-off. Energy is light (227). Not worth the drive. By the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd, there’s a tiny bump in swell again—3 ft to 4 ft from the SSW with 15-second periods and moderate energy up to 615, but it’s still cross-off winds. The pattern just won’t shift.

So here’s the honest word: the one clear standout is that Tuesday morning (August 18th) window with the glassy, offshore wind. Everything else is a write-off for paddle surfing. If you’re a kiter, those cross-off days with over 20 mph winds might look interesting, but for us surfers? It’s a tough stretch.

Rusty.

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