Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what we’ve got.

Honestly, the first few days are a bust. Wednesday the 2nd through Friday the 4th, the wind is howling out of the ENE at 22 mph, cross-off, and while there’s swell, the conditions are just poor. Not worth the effort. The wave energy is moderate (around 400-470) but the wind is too strong to make it any fun.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th get a little better, but it’s still only marginal. The swell picks up to about 5 ft from the S and SSW, with a period of 11-12 seconds, and the wind drops to a moderate breeze. There’s a chance of thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon. The energy ticks up a bit—Sunday afternoon hits 823 (moderate)—but it’s still not clean enough to get stoked about.

Now, Monday the 7th is where things start looking up. The morning has a 3 ft SSW swell with a very long 17-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 1075 (strong). The wind is a light 12 mph from the E. By the afternoon, the swell is 5 ft from the SW, period 12 seconds, and energy is 1319. The wind drops to a gentle breeze. This is the first real window of decent surf, but it’s still only marginal.

The standout is Tuesday the 8th. That morning, Tunnels gets a 10 ft SW swell with a 14-second period. The energy is massive—6334 (very strong). The wind is from the SSE at 19 mph, cross-off, keeping the surf clean. But listen, that’s a big, powerful swell. Over 8 ft, so this is strictly for experienced surfers only. The break is exposed and the swell is coming from the SW, which is the perfect direction for Tunnels. If you’re an expert, this is your day. The afternoon drops to 8 ft, still big, and the wind eases to 16 mph. Still a solid session for the skilled crew.

After that, the swell drops off fast. Wednesday the 9th is back to 5 ft and messy, and from Thursday the 10th through to Sunday the 14th, it’s pretty poor. Swell sizes are tiny—1 ft to 2 ft—with periods all over the place. The energy is weak (88-223). The best you’ll get is a “surfable” call on Monday the 14th afternoon, but that’s just ordinary.

There’s a glimmer toward the end of the forecast. Tuesday the 15th morning shows a 2 ft SW swell with a crazy long 21-second period, energy 263. The wind is light from the E at 6 mph. The guidance says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s promising, but the swell is tiny. Wednesday the 16th is similar, with 3 ft and a 19-second period, energy 667. And then Thursday the 17th morning looks even better: 3 ft SSW, 17-second period, light breeze, and the energy is 633. The report says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s a solid session for the more patient surfer, but it’s over a week away—so treat it as promising but not locked in.

Water temp at Tunnels is about 81°, which is normal for this time of year. Crowds are often there, so expect company, especially if the surf is good.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is Tuesday the 8th for the big-swell crew, and maybe keep an eye on Thursday the 17th for a cleaner, smaller window. The rest is mostly a wait.

Rusty.

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