Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's talk about what's on offer at Whale Rock over the next couple of weeks.

We've got a tough start at Whale Rock. The wind is a mess on Monday the 27th, with a fresh 19 mph cross-breeze ruining the 5 ft swell. The combined energy is moderate at 479. It’s not looking good. The water temperature is 71°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

Tuesday the 28th is a write-off, with more rain and strong cross-onshore winds. The swell jumps up to 7 ft on the afternoon but it’s just lumpy, messy chop. The combined energy is strong at 1195, but it’s not doing us any favors.

Now, Wednesday the 29th is where things get interesting. The morning is still a bit iffy with a light onshore breeze, but the afternoon is a golden window. We get a 6 ft SE swell with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind swings to a glassy NNE breeze at only 3 mph. The break is a reef, so that long period could still shape up nicely, but the duration is a bit short. The combined energy is moderate at 849. This is the standout for the first week. It’s clean, glassy, and the surf will be clean. Just a heads up, this spot is inconsistent and when it’s good, it draws a crowd, so expect some company.

Thursday the 30th has a clean cross-offshore wind in the morning with a 6 ft SE swell, but conditions are described as marginal. Friday the 31st is another good call with a clean, offshore wind in the morning and glassy conditions in the afternoon. The swell is 7 ft and 6 ft respectively, with a moderate combined energy around 843 and 683. It’s clean, but not quite as good as Wednesday.

We then hit a rough patch. From Saturday the 1st of August through to Tuesday the 5th, the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore from the NE, often strong, and the surf is poor. The swell sticks around 7 ft to 8 ft, but the cross-chop makes it a mess. The combined energy hits 1573 on Sunday the 2nd, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-onshore. It’s a classic "kite-surfing looks more fun" setup for a beach and reef spot like this.

The second week is a bit of a mixed bag. Wednesday the 6th and Thursday the 7th are still marginal, with cross-onshore winds and short period swell. The energy drops off. Then on Saturday the 9th of August, the swell direction swings to the south with a very long period of 14 seconds. The combined energy is very strong at 2247, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore. It’s a promising long-range setup, but the wind isn't perfect. The 10th of August has a similar story with a 6 ft S swell and a 14-second period, but the cross-on wind keeps it from being a standout. The 11th of August is the end of the run, with a drop in swell to 3 ft.

So, the call is clear. For the whole 16-day window, the very best session is Wednesday afternoon, the 29th of July. It’s the only day with a glassy, clean forecast. Friday the 31st is a solid backup. Beyond that, it’s a case of watching the wind and hoping for the best.

Rusty.

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