Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright surfers, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what Tunnels has on offer over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – this is going to be a real test of patience.

We’ve got a long, quiet patch to start. From Friday the 10th right through until the morning of Monday the 21st, it’s pretty much a surf desert. The energy is there, but the wind is just relentless. A constant cross-off shore breeze from the ENE at 22-30 mph is making a mess of things, and the wave heights are hovering around a weak 1-3 ft with poor surf conditions flagged every day. The combined swell energy (151 to 595) is mostly moderate, but it doesn’t matter when it’s blown out. The water is a warm 79°, which is about normal for this time of year. Honestly, if you’re a kiter, this setup might get you excited, but for a paddle surfer? Forget it.

Things finally start to look up on Tuesday the 21st. The wind eases right back, shifting to a light offshore breeze from the East at just 12 mph. Finally, some clean conditions! The swell is still small, only 2 ft from the South with a 14-second period, but moderate energy (309) and clean conditions mean there’s a chance for a few decent ones. Tunnels is a fairly consistent spot, so even a small groundswell from the south can line up nicely on the exposed SW-facing reef. The crowd situation here can get busy though, so prepare to share.

Wednesday the 22nd morning looks like the real highlight of the outlook. We’ve got a light, gentle offshore from the East at 9 mph – glassy and clean. The swell holds at 2 ft from the South with a 13-second period, and the energy is solid (258). This is your window. The easterly offshore wind is spot-on for Tunnels, and with a long-period S swell wrapping in, it should offer some nice, shapely rides for intermediate surfers. Don’t sleep on it, because after that, the wind starts to build again.

From Thursday the 23rd onwards, we’re back to strong cross-off winds and messy conditions, despite the swell size creeping up to 3 ft with super long 18-21 second periods. The energy numbers (414 to 736) look impressive, but with that blasting wind, it won’t translate into good surf. That’s a shame, because a long period SSW swell would normally be epic here.

So, the call is clear: don’t bother until the morning of Tuesday the 21st. Your best bet is Wednesday the 22nd morning. It’s a small window, but when it’s clean and offshore, Tunnels can still throw a surprise.

Stay keen,
Rusty

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