Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipeline for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the surf is pretty flat for a good long stretch. The first day we see anything worth paddling out for is Wednesday, 12th of August, and even then it’s just barely a ripple. Expect a whole lot of waiting around until then.

From Thursday 6th through Tuesday 11th, it’s a total write-off. Real small, weak swell around 1 ft to 3 ft, with a steady cross-off breeze out of the ENE at 15 to 19 mph. The water’s warm at 80°, which is about average for this time of year, but that’s about the only nice thing I can say. The combined swell energy is barely a whisper, mostly under 350 (104 to 344). It’s just not happening.

Things start to flicker a little life on Wednesday 12th. Tunnels gets a bit of a lift with the swell bumping up to 3 ft to 3 ft, coming from the south with a period of 18 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, so the waves will have some push and shape, but it’s still a bit marginal. The cross-off wind keeps the surface clean, but the energy is moderate at best (816 to 831). That energy climbs a bit more into Thursday 13th, with swell holding around 4 ft from the south, period dropping to 15–16 seconds, and energy around 756 to 678. The wind stays cross-off, but it’s a fresh breeze. Still, it’s just a “marginal” call.

Then we get a bit of a slump again from Friday 14th through Tuesday 18th. Swell drops back to 2 ft to 3 ft, and the wind picks up – 22 to 25 mph from the ENE. That’s a strong breeze making the surface a bit bumpy. The energy is weak to moderate (241 to 466). Not worth getting excited about.

Now, late in the window, we do see a bit more promise. On Wednesday 19th, the swell is still tiny at 1 ft to 2 ft, but the period jumps to 17 seconds from the SW, and energy is a moderate 193. Then Thursday 20th, the swell starts to build stronger, with 2 ft to 2 ft from the SW and SSW, but the period is real long – 21 to 22 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, and the energy climbs to 419 to 428. That’s moderate energy, but with that long period, Tunnels, being an exposed spot, might see some clean lines. The wind is cross-off, but it’s still a fresh 22 mph.

The best looking of the whole bunch comes on Friday 21st of August. Morning sees some cloud cover, swell from the SW at 2 ft with a 19-second period, and energy at 532 – that’s a solid moderate energy. The wind is from the ENE at 22 mph, cross-off, keeping it clean. The afternoon is similar, but with a bit less energy. It’s still a marginal call, but given the run of doldrums we’ve had, this is the standout. It’s a long way out, so don’t book the time off work just yet, but keep an eye on it.

Tunnels is a fairly consistent spot, but it’s often crowded, so expect company if you do go. The swell direction is from the SW, which is a good match for this spot. The water temp anomaly is about normal, so no surprises there.

So, the short story: a long dry spell, a few days of marginal but maybe surfable waves mid-month, then a slight uptick right at the end of the 16-day window. The best bet is Friday 21st August, but it’s a long-range call.

Stay patient, and stay tuned.

Rusty.

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