Tunnels Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

Alright, listen up. We're looking at a pretty bleak stretch ahead for Tunnels. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. But the surf? Man, it's a ghost town for most of the 16 days. We've got a long gap coming up with no real action on offer.

The only window that even looks like it might be worth a paddle is kicking off on Thursday, August 20th. The swell is coming in from the SW at 2 ft, with a period of 17 to 18 seconds – that's a proper long-period groundswell, which will have some grunt behind it. The combined energy is moderate, hitting 249 (moderate wave energy). The wind is light and cross-off, so the waves should be clean. It's a fairly consistent break, so there's a chance.

Then, Friday, August 21st is the standout. The swell is a touch better at 2 ft from the SW, with a 17-second period and a combined energy of 348 (moderate wave energy). The real kicker is the wind – it's glassy in the morning, and light cross-off in the afternoon. That's a major positive, meaning the surf will be clean and smooth. Tunnels is exposed to the swell, and the optimum direction is SW, so this is a good match. Expect some crowds, as it's often busy there.

After that, things fall apart. From Saturday, August 22nd, right through to the end of the outlook, the wind is just too strong. We're talking 18 to 31 mph winds, mostly cross-off. While the waves themselves stay clean in the forecast, the wind strength is a deal-breaker. The swell energy will be moderate to strong (values like 385, 509, 391), but with that wind, it's going to be a battle. For the experienced guys, the morning of August 27th has the strongest energy at 509 (strong wave energy), but with a 15 mph wind, it's not going to be a fun session. By the end of the first week and into the second, the surf is just not recommended.

There's a long gap from August 22nd through to September 3rd with no good surf. The wind is just too gnarly.

So, bottom line: if you have to get wet, lock in Thursday, August 20th or Friday, August 21st. Friday morning, with the glassy conditions and that long-period SW groundswell, is your best bet. The rest? Honestly, this setup might be more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers with that constant strong wind.

Rusty.

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