Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe for this stretch. Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is a bit of a write-off for any decent waves. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with hardly any energy to speak of.

From Friday, July 31st all the way through to Saturday, August 8th, it’s pretty grim. Wave heights are stuck in the 1ft to 2ft range, and the combined swell energy is mostly weak, sitting well under 300 (in the 74-359 range). The wind is a steady cross-off from the ENE, but it’s fresh to strong, blowing at 15-25 mph. That keeps the surface clean, but there’s just no power in the water. These are flat spells, plain and simple. Not worth paddling out for.

The first real flicker of life comes on Sunday, August 9th at Tunnels. The swell starts to bump up a bit, 2ft to 2ft, with a long period starting to push through – 18 to 19 seconds. The combined energy jumps into the moderate range at 475 to 533 (moderate wave energy). The wind is still cross-off and moderate to fresh, so it’s rideable but not perfect. The score is still low, so it’s more of a "maybe" than a "must-do."

Now, the standouts. The real window opens up on Friday, August 14th. The morning at Tunnels sees the wind going light offshore from the east at just 3 mph. That’s clean, glassy conditions. The swell is 2ft from the south, with a period of 14 seconds, giving us 309 (moderate wave energy). The afternoon is where it gets even better. Winds shift to a light cross-off from the SSE at 3 mph, the swell stays at 2ft from the south, but the period jumps to 18 seconds, and the combined energy rockets to 575 (moderate wave energy). This is a very good sign – long-period groundswell, clean conditions, and the direction is right in the sweet spot for Tunnels, which is exposed to the SW. This is the pick of the forecast.

Saturday, August 15th also has potential in the morning. The swell holds at 3ft from the south, period of 16 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 852 (strong wave energy). The wind is a light 6 mph cross-off from the ENE. That’s a lot of energy for a 3ft swell, meaning it’s gonna be punchy and well-shaped. The score is a bit marginal, but the numbers are looking promising.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a total bust. Don’t even bother. The best days are Friday, August 14th afternoon and Saturday, August 15th morning at Tunnels. That’s where you’ll find the cleanest conditions and the most push. Keep in mind, the report says crowds are "often" here, so expect company if the forecast holds.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the horizon.

Rusty

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