Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, straight up, this is a tough run. For the next 16 days, there’s no real standout session that I’d get properly excited about. The wind is locked in from the east and east-northeast, giving us a persistent cross-off breeze at Tunnels. That’s not a bad thing for this spot – it keeps things clean and the surface smooth – but the swell just isn’t cooperating.

The first real flicker of something worthwhile comes on Wednesday the 15th of July. Morning session at Tunnels will see a clean 3 ft swell from the west, with a period of 15 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, long lines, and the combined energy is moderate (455). The wind is a light breeze, so the surface will be glassy. The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions” – the best we’ll see. But it’s small, so you’ll be on a log or a fish. The west direction is a good match for the optimum, and the 15-second period means it’ll wrap in nicely. The crowds are often here, so you might have some company.

After that, it’s pretty grim. The wind stays breezy, mostly 15 to 19 mph, and the swell drops off. There’s a brief moment on Thursday the 16th of July afternoon – a 2 ft swell from the south-southwest, period jumping to 17 seconds, and the combined energy spikes to 575 (moderate). That’s a long-period swell, and it’s a touch stronger, but the wave comment calls it “marginal,” and the wind is a moderate cross-off, so it’s not clean enough to make it a winner.

The rest of the first week and into the second week is a desert. From Friday the 18th of July right through to Monday the 28th of July, the wave comment is mostly “poor surf conditions” with a few “marginal” tags. The swell heights hover around 1 ft to 3 ft, and the combined energy drops into the low 100s and 200s – weak to moderate. The wind never truly lets up, staying in the moderate to fresh breeze range. The period varies, but it doesn’t matter when the swell is this fickle.

The best of the worst is maybe Wednesday the 24th of July into Saturday the 26th of July. The swell is small (1 ft to 2 ft) but the wind backs off a little to a gentle breeze, and the period gets long again (18 seconds). The wave comment is “marginal” – think small, clean, but gutless. You’d be scratching for waist-high runners.

If you’re a beginner, this whole run is fine to learn on – nothing over 5 ft, so it’s safe. But for anyone looking for a proper wave, this is a long, flat spell. The only time the moderate energy (above 400) lines up with a “good” wave comment is that Wednesday the 15th of July. That’s your one shot.

The water temperature? No anomaly data given, so it’s about average for the time of year.

Honestly, this is one of those windows where the forecast might change, but as it stands, you’re looking at about 10 days straight of poor surf from the 18th of July onwards. Keep the board waxed and hope for a shift in the swell direction.

Rusty.

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