Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks around here.

Honestly, the start is a bit of a write-off. For the first few days we’re looking at tiny, weak energy and messy wind. That 2ft S swell with cross-off breezes on Tuesday, July 28th – combined energy is just 181 – it’s not worth paddling out for. Wednesday (July 29th) and the rest of the week don't get much better; we’re stuck with poor surf conditions daily, the wind is almost always a fresh cross-off from the ENE, and the swell never really gets its act together. This pattern is locked in through to the end of the first week and into the start of the second. There’s a real desert of no-good options from the 28th of July all the way through to the 8th of August. Just a long, flat, blown-out stretch.

The first glimmer of something half-decent shows up on Thursday morning, July 30th. Early doors we’ve got a cleaner picture with an offshore E wind around 12 mph, pushing into a 3ft S swell. The energy does climb to a moderate 390, but it's still small and quite short in period for a S swell. It's a watch-and-see, not a standout.

The real standout window – and I mean the only one worth circling in your diary – arrives around the 10th of August. That’s Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th. The swell finally pushes up past the 3ft mark, with a consistent 3ft to 4ft from the SSW/S direction. The combined energy hits strong levels: 594 on Monday morning and 653 on Monday afternoon. That is serious energy for this spot. The period holds around 14 to 16 seconds, giving it some proper groundswell punch and shape. Now, the downside – and I have to be straight with you – the wind is still a cross-off from the ENE at 19-22 mph. That’s going to hold the conditions back from being pristine. The models keep flagging the surf as "marginal" because of it. It’s not going to be glassy, but for Tunnels (Tunnels) this is the best we’ve seen in the entire run. Given the size is just over 3ft, it’s fine for intermediates. The long-period SW component will line up nicely with the optimum direction, and those longer gaps between sets should make it easier to get out the back.

Further into the second week, around Wednesday August 12th, the swell eases back to 3ft and the energy drops to 475, plus the wind isn't as strong. It'll be surfable but nothing special. Don't get excited about the Friday the 7th or Saturday the 8th – the energy spikes on those days (234 and 307) but with the same ENE cross-off wind and only 1ft to 2ft of swell, it’s just a tease.

So, to boil it down: the first nine days are a wash. Keep the board in the car for the 10th and 11th of August – that’s where the best chance of a decent paddle lies, even if the wind isn't doing us any favours. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only game in town.

Rusty.

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