Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we've got a classic case of "wait for it." The first few days are bringing in some clean, cross-off wind, but the swell is just too small and weak to get excited about. We're talking tiny waves in the 2 ft to 3 ft range from the SSW, with a long period that's all over the shop. The combined energy is moderate (405 to 854), but honestly, the wave comment says it all – "marginal surf forecast." It's going to be a frustrating wait for any real push.

We're looking at Tunnels as the only spot on the radar. It's a fairly consistent, intermediate-level break that's exposed to the south-west, so it's catching what little energy is out there. The water temp is a pleasant 80°, which is bang on average for the time of year, so no wetsuit worries.

The real story is a gap in the action. From late Sunday the 27th right through to the end of July, the forecasts drop off a cliff. The combined energy plummets into the low hundreds (192 to 304), and the conditions are just "poor" or "marginal." It's a proper dead spell for almost a week, with only a fleeting moment of hope on the morning of Wednesday the 30th, but even then, the wind is just a gentle cross-shore, nothing to write home about.

Then, just when you're about to give up, we get a glimmer. The morning of Friday the 31st of July shapes up as the clear standout. The swell is still only 3 ft, but it's swinging around to the West, with a long 14-second period, and the wind goes light and cross-offshore from the East. The combined energy gets a healthy bump to 415 (moderate), and the wave comment finally says "expect good surf conditions." That's the window. It's not a monster, but it's the cleanest, most promising period we've got. The afternoon of that same day, though, the wind picks back up, so it's a morning mission.

After that, it's back to the doldrums. The first few days of August are a write-off – strong winds, small swell, and poor conditions. The forecast confidence drops right off. We do get a couple of "good surf conditions" calls on the morning and afternoon of Wednesday the 5th of August, with tiny 2 ft SSW swell and light winds, but it's so far out, treat it as a long-shot hope.

So, to sum it up: the only real highlight is the morning of Friday the 31st of July at Tunnels. It's a one-morning wonder with clean, light winds and a little West swell. If you can get out then, you'll have a decent, uncrowded session. The rest of the window is a slow grind.

Rusty out.

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