Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, let's be straight with you. We're looking at a pretty long stretch of average to poor conditions here at Tunnels. The first week and a half is a real grind. The swell is on offer, but the wind is a stubborn cross-off from the ENE, often blowing at 15 to 22 mph, which is just strong enough to put a chop on the surface and make things feel messy. The water's sitting at a warm 79°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The combined energy (417) for the first Saturday afternoon (July 11) is moderate, but with that wind, it's a write-off. It's a pattern that holds through to the end of the following week. The swell stays small, mostly around 2 ft to 3 ft, with a decent period from the SW. The energy picks up a bit on Tuesday the 14th (575), but it's still just not happening. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the consistent wind.

We finally get a bit of a break on Wednesday morning, July 15. The wind drops to a light breeze at 6 mph, still cross-off, but the surf is small at 2 ft from the W. The energy (391) is moderate, and it's the first time we see a mention of "good surf conditions." It's small, but it'll be clean. The rest of that week stays marginal, with the wind picking up again.

Now, the real glimmer of hope shows up in the second week. On Wednesday afternoon, July 22, we see a spike in energy (854) with a 2 ft swell from the SSW, but get this—the period is 24 seconds. That's a very long period groundswell. The energy is strong, but these long-period swells can be a bit tricky here at a beach break like Tunnels, sometimes breaking too straight. The wind is still cross-off, so it'll be clean, but the crowds are often around here, so be prepared.

The standout, the one you should circle on your calendar, is the morning of Sunday, July 26. We have a 5 ft swell from the S with a period of 18 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1750, which is very strong. This is the biggest, most powerful swell of the forecast. The wind is a moderate 12 mph cross-off, so it'll be manageable. However, at 5 ft, this is starting to get a bit much for beginners, and the energy is significant. It's the best on offer, but it's still a ways out, so keep an eye on it. The afternoons after that are still solid but a touch smaller.

To sum it up: the first ten days are mostly a washout with strong wind. The best window is that small, clean window on the 15th, and the biggest, most promising swell is the morning of the 26th.

Rusty.

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