Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this stretch ahead is a real test of patience. We’ve got a run of small, marginal surf, and honestly, for the next week and a bit, you’ll be squinting at the ocean more than you’ll be paddling out.

The first surf that’s even worth a look doesn’t show up until Thursday morning, September 10th, and even then it’s barely a pulse. Tunnels is the only spot in the mix, and it’s a pretty exposed one, so it’s picking up every bit of that two-foot energy. We’re talking 2 ft of SSW swell with a 16-second period—that’s some long-period groundswell, which is nice for shape, but the energy is weak at (314). The water’s sitting at 80.2°, which is about normal for this time of year. The wind is a cross-off from the ENE at 12 mph, so it’s not blown out, but the whole setup feels a bit half-hearted. It’s a “maybe if you’re desperate” kind of morning.

That pattern holds for a few days. Friday and Saturday are the same story—small SW swell, 2.3 ft, long periods, but the combined energy drops off to (303) then (245). Still cross-off winds, still clean, but the ocean’s just not giving us anything with push. The afternoon sessions are even worse, with the swell dropping and the breeze picking up to 16 mph. You’re better off doing something else.

Sunday the 13th is a write-off. Swell backs down to 1.6 ft and the energy crashes to (107). Monday’s not much better. But then, right at the end of the first week, things start to tick up a little. Tuesday morning, September 15th, the swell bumps to 2.3 ft but the period jumps to 20 seconds and the combined energy climbs to (433)—that’s moderate energy now, so there’s finally a bit of grunt behind it. Still only a 1/10 score, though. The surf’s there, but it’s marginal.

From Wednesday the 16th through to Friday the 18th, the swell builds a touch more, hitting 3 ft. The energy gets into the (496-716) range, which is moderate, and the period stays in that 16-18 second zone. Wind’s still cross-off from the ENE, but it’s blowing harder—19 to 22 mph by Friday afternoon. That’s getting fresh, and it’ll be making things a bit lumpy on top of the clean lines. Still, there are waves. It’s just not what you’d call good.

After that, it fades again. The weekend of the 19th and 20th keeps the 3 ft swell but the energy drops, and by Sunday the period has shortened to 14 seconds, which is less favorable. Then we hit a proper dead spell from Monday the 21st through Tuesday the 22nd—swell drops to 1.3 ft, energy bottoms out at (42). That’s as weak as it gets. A real flat patch.

Here’s the thing that gets interesting. Wednesday morning, September 23rd, the swell comes back to 2.6 ft with a 19-second period and energy back up to (469). Still not big, but the period is long and the wind is light from the NE at 9 mph. Then Thursday the 24th, we get a shift—wind swings to the SW at only 6 mph, light cross/cross-on, and the swell holds at 3.3 ft with 16-second period and energy around (549). That’s the best of the second week, but still only a 2/10.

But the real standout, the one that gets my heart rate up, is Friday morning, September 25th. The wind drops to zero—absolutely glassy. The swell is 2.3 ft from the SW with a 15-second period, and the energy is a solid (378). The comment says it all: “expect good surf conditions.” After two weeks of marginal dribble, this is the one. Tunnels is a reef setup, so that longer period is going to hold up and give you some proper shape. The morning is the call, completely glass, clean lines. The afternoon is just as glassy, wind still zero, with a touch more south in the swell (2.3 ft from the S). If you’ve got any flexibility, that Friday morning is your window. It’s not huge, but it’ll be the cleanest, most surfable wave of the entire run.

So, in summary: the next ten or so days are mostly for the die-hards. There’s a bit of energy mid-week next week, but nothing special. The one to circle is Friday the 25th—glassy, clean, and just enough swell to make it fun. Keep an eye on that one.

Stay patient, and I’ll see you out there.

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