Whites Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, and let's get into it. We're looking at a long stretch ahead, and I gotta tell ya, it’s gonna be a test of patience.

Right out of the gate, we've got a rough run. The first week plus is a write-off for any decent waves. From now through the end of July and into the first few days of August, it's all "poor surf conditions" with scores that don't even register. The swell is there but the wind is just relentless – howling onshore from the west and southwest. We're talking 15 to 22 mph winds most days, smashing up the sea surface. The wave energy is often moderate to strong (like 1,155 to 3,842), but with that wind, it's a total mess. Thursday, August 1st shows a glimmer with a light breeze and a 4ft swell, but the conditions are still marginal at best.

The real change, and the only standout we've got in this whole 16-day window, comes on Sunday, August 2nd. But you have to look closely. Early that morning, it turns glassy – a light NNE wind at just 3 mph, which is about as good as it gets for clean conditions. The swell is a modest 4ft from the southwest, but it's packing a very long period of 16 seconds. That's pure groundswell energy, and it will wrap into Whites Reef nicely, matching the optimum direction (W). The combined energy is moderate at 643, and the wave comment says "expect very good surf conditions." This is the window. It won't be huge, but it will be clean, lined up, and probably pretty consistent for an intermediate crew. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so it won't be a total freeze.

Now, a caveat on that Sunday morning window: that 16-second period is very long. At a reef break like Whites Reef, that'll mean long, clean lines and nice shape, but also longer lulls between sets. It won't be a non-stop paddle-fest, but it will make getting out the back easier. After that glassy morning, the wind swings WNW and picks up for the afternoon, turning it a bit bumpy.

Looking further out, Thursday, August 6th catches the eye. The afternoon shows a 5ft southwest groundswell (16 secs) with light cross-offshore winds from the SSE at just 6 mph. The conditions are described as "excellent surf for experienced surfers" and the energy is strong (1,364). This is over a week away, so there's some uncertainty, but it’s the one to circle on the calendar if you like a bit more size and power with clean conditions. It's worth the wait.

So, in short: a rough, windy start, one absolute pearl of a morning on Sunday the 2nd, and a promising but longer-range window on the 6th. Don't bother paddling out before that first weekend of August.

Rusty.

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