Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the coming weeks. It's a bit of a tricky stretch ahead, so let's break it down.

First off, we're looking at Tunnels. Water temp is sitting around 79°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Right now, and for the next several days, it's a tough watch. We've got a persistent ENE wind blowing cross-offshore, but the swell is tiny and weak. Through Thursday and Friday (that's the 2nd and 3rd of July), you're looking at ankle-to-knee high waves with combined energy readings struggling between 242 and 374. The period is a very long 14 to 17 seconds, which for a beach and reef setup like Tunnels means the waves will be fat and straight. Honestly, it's a paddle workout for no reward.

We scrap into a bit of a pulse from Saturday the 4th through to Sunday the 5th. The swell bumps up to around 3ft, coming from the SSW and S with combined energy hitting 692 on Saturday morning. The period is still long (18 to 21 seconds), which isn't ideal for this spot. Still, with those clean conditions and a bit more push, it's the best we're going to get for a while. This is the standout in an otherwise quiet period. Don't expect perfection, but there'll be some rideable lines for the intermediate crew. The wind stays cross-off, so the surface will be glassy clean.

After that little spike, from Monday the 6th right through to Friday the 10th, we drop back into the doldrums. Swell heights hover between 1ft and 3ft, energy drops right off into the low hundreds, and the forecast calls it poor surf conditions. This is a real quiet stretch with no real quality on offer.

We see another little flicker of energy around Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th. Swell comes in from the SSW and SW at 2ft to 3ft. The combined energy gets back up around 546-568, and the period drops to a more manageable 17-18 seconds. It's still only marginal, but with some clouds overhead and the wind easing a bit on Sunday afternoon to a moderate 16 mph breeze, there might be a few better-shaped runners.

The most promising window actually looks to be Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th. Swell holds around 3ft from the SW, energy is moderate at 548-562, and the wind finally eases to a 12 mph cross-off. The period is a decent 14-15 seconds. It’s still a "marginal" call, but conditions are looking the cleanest they have all forecast. The break is fairly consistent, so keep an eye on this window for a few sneaky peaks, ideally in the morning session.

From Wednesday the 15th onward, it's another fade-out. Swell drops back under 2ft, energy plummets and the poor surf tag returns for the rest of the run. Not much to get excited about.

So, the bottom line: there's no proper pumping swell on the horizon. The best bet is the Saturday (4th) and Sunday (5th) pulse for a little bit of size, or the Monday-Tuesday (13th-14th) window for cleaner, if smaller, conditions. Crowds are often here, so expect company. It’s going to be a patience game.

Rusty.

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