Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a bit of a lean stretch ahead for the region, so don’t expect fireworks every day.

The first real chance to get wet kicks off on Monday the 20th of July. The main break in the spotlight is Tunnels. This is an exposed spot, meaning it catches whatever is out there, but the early part of the window is a bit of a mixed bag. The water is sitting at 80°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year.

On that Monday afternoon, a solid groundswell is rolling in with a 16-second period pushing 3ft from the south. The combined energy is moderate at 494. The wind is a cross-off from the ENE at 19 mph, which keeps the surface clean, but the wave comment says it’s poor surf conditions. The shape likely isn’t doing it for us despite the juice.

Things carry on with a similar pattern through Tuesday and Wednesday, with swell around 2ft to 3ft and periods that are still long, from 14 up to 24 seconds. The wind stays cross-off, but the scores are marginal. By Thursday the 23rd, the energy builds to 754 (moderate) with 3ft SSW swell at 20 seconds, but the wind picks up to 22 mph, chopping things up. Not great.

Friday the 24th morning holds a similar story – 3ft SSW, 18-second period, 594 energy – but the 19 mph cross-off keeps it just on the edge of surfable. The afternoon gets blown out.

The standout period looks to be Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th. The swell sticks around 3ft to 3ft from the SSW, with periods around 18-19 seconds. Energy is high, hitting 820 on Saturday morning. That’s moderate-to-strong energy. The trouble is the wind stays a firm cross-off from the ENE at 19 mph. The waves will be clean but the quality is rated as marginal. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best on offer. Tunnels is a fairly consistent spot, so you’ve got a chance, but it’ll be a power session, not a groomed one.

After that, the energy drops. Starting Monday the 27th, the swell fades to 3ft, then smaller, and the period drops to 15 seconds and below. The wind stays moderate, but the scores drop to zero. By the end of the month and into August, the swell is struggling to hit 2ft, with periods around 12-13 seconds. The combined energy dips to 100-200 (weak). There’s a brief glimmer on Thursday the 30th of July afternoon when the wind eases to a light breeze at 6 mph, and the energy bumps up to 305, but with only 2ft of 12-second S swell, it’s a long shot for a fun wave.

The final few days into early August show flat or near-flat conditions with tiny swell and energy in the double digits. It’s a dead run.

So, the takeaway: if you’re keen, your best bet is the weekend of the 25th and 26th of July. It won’t be glassy perfection, but the power is there. The rest of the window is a waiting game.

Stay frothy,
Rusty

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