Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s shaking for the next 16 days. Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – this is a tough run. We’ve got a long, lean stretch ahead with very little to get excited about. The pattern is dominated by persistent cross-offshore winds and small, inconsistent swell.

Starting on Saturday, July 18th, and running right through the first week, the story is much the same. We’re looking at tiny waves, mostly around 1 ft to 3 ft, coming from the south-southwest and south. The combined swell energy is generally weak, hanging around the 200s and 300s, with a few moments of moderate energy in the mid-to-high 400s and 500s. The wind is a constant cross-off from the east-northeast, blowing at 16 to 22 mph. While the wind direction keeps the surface clean, these are just not the kind of numbers that get a surfer out of bed. The water temp is sitting at a toasty 80°, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a steamer.

There’s a slight flicker of hope on the charts. From Wednesday afternoon, July 22nd, into the following week, the swell gets a bit more juice. The period stretches out, hitting 20+ seconds on Thursday the 23rd, which is proper groundswell. The combined energy pushes into the strong category, with readings over 700 and even 800, like we see on the afternoon of the 24th (854). The size stays small though, peaking around 3 ft to 3 ft, coming from the SSW. This long-period swell, over 15 seconds, is great for a place like Tunnels, which is a reef setup – it handles that long, racy energy well. The wind, however, remains a stiff cross-off, which will keep things clean but likely put a bit of a bump on the face. The problem is that while the energy is there, the size is just too small to really open up the wave. The forecast keeps calling it marginal or poor, and I have to agree. It’s a tease.

From the end of July into the first couple of days of August, the energy drops back off again. The combined energy falls below 500, and the size slumps back to 2 ft to 2 ft. The wind doesn’t let up. It’s a long, dry spell.

If I had to call out a best bet, and it’s a weak one, I’d look at that Thursday, July 23rd, and Friday, July 24th. The swell energy is at its best and the period is long. But don’t expect a classic. The setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, with that strong cross-off wind and small, clean waves. For us, it’s a window of promising but low-percentage surf. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game. The whole run is a gap of marginal conditions, with no real standout days.

Stay tuned, forecasts can change. Rusty out.

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