Whites Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at this patch of ocean for a solid week now. Let me tell you what’s cooking for Whites Reef.
First up, that water temperature is sitting at 59°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Not a bad thing, but don't expect a tropical bath.

Right now, the surf is pretty flat and messy. The first few days are a write-off, honestly. We’re looking at a stretch of poor conditions with choppy, cross-onshore winds and weak surf. The combined swell energy is weak, sitting around 229, and the waves are only 3 ft from the SW. That’s not going to get anyone out of bed.

We’re in a real dry spell until the end of the month. There’s a big gap of nothing until the 1st of August. On the morning of Saturday, the 1st, we get a tiny bit of hope. The swell is still small at 3 ft from the SW, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds, and the wind is a clean, cross-off. That’s rare. The combined energy is moderate at 389. It’s marginal, but if you’re desperate, the morning might give you a clean little wave.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the morning of Saturday, the 8th of August. This is the best on offer. The swell is 4 ft from the SW, with a very long 16-second period. The wind is a light, cross-off breeze, and the wave comment says "expect very good surf conditions." The combined swell energy is a solid 933. This is a proper groundswell, and it’s going to be clean as a whistle. The crowds are often here, so expect company, but the quality will be worth it. The afternoon on the same day is also clean, with 4 ft swell and light winds. That’s your window.

Before that, there’s a brief moment on the morning of Sunday, the 2nd. The swell is 4 ft from the SW with a 17-second period, and the wind is clean cross-off. The energy is 957. It’s a good option, but the 8th is cleaner.

After the 8th, the wind picks up again, and the quality drops off. The 9th has clean winds but is blown out by a strong breeze, and the 10th looks messy with onshore winds. So, don’t sleep on that Saturday the 8th.

For the beginners: that 4 ft swell is fine, but on the 28th and 29th of July, the swell gets over 5 ft, and with the strong winds, it’s not a learner’s day. On the 3rd of August, the afternoon swell hits 8 ft, and that’s expert-only territory, especially with the choppy cross-onshore wind.

This is a reef break, and with those long-period swells on the 1st, 2nd, and 8th, the waves will have real shape and energy. The long gaps between sets will make paddling out easier, but the wave itself will be a proper stand-up wave.

Rusty out.

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