Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into what’s happening out there.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s looking flat and pretty average for most of this 16-day run. We’ve got one break in the mix, Tunnels, which is an exposed spot, but the swell energy coming in is mostly in the moderate range, between 56 and 854 on the combined energy scale. The water temp is sitting at a pretty normal 80°, so no shock there for this time of year.

We kick things off Thursday the 23rd of July with a small, weak SSW groundswell – about 2ft with a long 20-second period. That long period means the waves will have some push and shape, but the energy is just not there. The wind is a fresh cross-offshore breeze from the ENE at 22 mph, which keeps things clean. Still, this is only marginal surf, and the crowds are often an issue here, so expect some company for what’s on offer.

Friday the 24th is more of the same – 3ft SSW swell, still with a long period around 17 to 18 seconds. The wind stays fresh and cross-off. It’s clean but small. Honestly, for an intermediate surfer, you might get a couple of fun ones if you’re patient, but it’s not blowing anyone’s mind.

Saturday the 25th edges up just slightly – 3ft SSW swell by the afternoon, period dropping to 18 seconds. Still cross-off from the ENE at 19 mph. Clean, but the energy is moderate. Again, nothing to get excited about.

From Sunday the 26th onward, things really start to fizzle. We get a stretch of poor surf conditions that runs for over a week. The swell drops into the 2ft to 3ft range, periods shorten, and the energy drops below 500. The winds stay moderate to fresh and cross-off, but the waves are just too weak. From Tuesday the 28th to Tuesday the 4th of August, the combined energy dips below 200, hitting as low as 56. This is a real dry spell.

Even the start of August is grim. The 5th and 6th see tiny 1ft to 2ft swells, with energy struggling to break 180. The wind stays moderate and cross-off, but there’s nothing to ride.

Finally, on Friday the 7th of August, we get a little flicker. A 1ft SSW swell with a period of 13 seconds, but the wind drops to a light 6 mph from the NE – the lightest wind of the whole period. It’s clean, but the wave comment just says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s about as exciting as it gets. The energy is only 115.

So what’s the best on offer? Honestly, the standout window is the first three days – Thursday the 23rd through Saturday the 25th of July. The swell direction is SSW, which is not the optimum SW for Tunnels, but the long periods (17-20 seconds) will give you some grunt, and the clean cross-off wind is a major positive. The size hovers around 2ft to 3ft. It’s small but rideable for intermediates. For advanced surfers, there’s just not enough push. Beginners will be fine in this small stuff.

After that, it’s a long, flat gap until that very ordinary Friday on the 7th. No standouts in the second week – it’s all tiny, weak, and forgettable. Forecasts can change, but right now, don’t get your hopes up.

Rusty.

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