Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead. The forecast is loaded with persistent cross-off winds from the ENE, and while the water is a warm 80°F (about average for this time of year), the energy just isn't lining up right for a proper surf. We’ve got a long gap of real poor conditions before anything even worth mentioning.

The first glimmer doesn’t come until July 5th, Sunday afternoon at Tunnels. The swell is only 3ft coming from the SSW, but packing some serious grunt with a combined wave energy of 521 (moderate). The period is a very long 18 seconds, which is pure groundswell. That long period means the waves will be well-shaped and have plenty of power, but they can also stand up and break too straight on a beach break. Tunnels being a reef, it should handle that long-period energy just fine, offering up some clean lines. The cross-off wind is still there, but the swell direction is very close to the optimum SW, so it might just work. It’s a marginal call and crowds are often an issue here, so if you're keen, get in early.

Beyond that one Sunday window, things fall apart again. July 6th through the 10th are all rated as poor surf. The winds stay strong and cross-off, and the swell dips in size and quality. We see a bit of a pulse again on the 11th (Saturday) with a 2ft – 2ft SSW/SW swell, but the combined energy climbs back up to 420, and again it’s a poor call due to the wind. The same story repeats on the 12th and 13th.

The next time we see a "marginal" call is Tuesday, July 14th. The swell picks up slightly to 3ft from the SSW, with a combined energy of 631 (moderate). The period is a decent 14 seconds. The cross-off wind is still there, so it's not perfect, but it's a step up from the junk we see in the days before. Wednesday the 15th morning is also marginal with a 2ft W swell and a 16-second period, but again, that ENE wind keeps it from being a standout.

Honestly, the only session with any real hope is that Sunday afternoon on the 5th. The rest of the period through to the 20th is a write-off of poor conditions and persistent wind. For an exposed spot like Tunnels, this is a frustrating run. Unless you’re a die-hard or a kite surfer looking for that consistent cross-off, I’d hang the board up for a while.

Expect a lot of flat, windy days ahead. It’s a bleak outlook, but that’s the hand we’ve been dealt.

Rusty.

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