Whites Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the menu for Whites Reef over the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, so let's get into it.

The immediate outlook is pretty grim, to be honest. We're looking at several days of poor conditions straight up. Starting Sunday the 12th, the swell is up around 8ft, but it's coming in from the WSW, and with a 28 mph cross-on westerly wind, it's a complete mess. The energy is pumping at 1607, but it's not surfable. That strong cross-onshore wind just shreds any chance of a clean wave. Monday the 13th is even bigger, with 8ft swell and very long 16-second periods from the SW, but again, those strong cross-onshore winds ruin it. The energy is massive at 3134, but it's a washing machine out there.

Tuesday the 14th brings a slight easing. The wind drops to 12 mph from the WSW, and we get 7ft to 6ft SW swell with that long 15-second period. The energy is still high (2039 dropping to 1491), but the conditions are only "questionable" at best. It's not a total write-off, but I wouldn't get too excited. Wednesday and Thursday are small and messy, with cross-onshore winds keeping the quality low.

Now, look, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A week out, on Friday the 17th, we get a brief window. The morning has a 4ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period, and crucially, a light cross-offshore NNW breeze at 9 mph. The energy is moderate at 765, but the report says "very good surf conditions" and the word "clean" is mentioned. That's the best call in the first week. It's a reef break that handles that long-period SW groundswell well, and it's exposed to the west. It might be a little inconsistent, but the waves that come through will have proper shape. Be aware that the crowds are "often" here, so you won't be alone.

That clean window disappears fast. Saturday the 18th drops off in size and then Sunday the 19th, the 25 mph winds return, this time from the north, making a mess of a tiny 2ft SW swell.

Moving into the second week of the forecast, things get more promising but less certain. The standout potential is on Thursday the 23rd of July. This is the one to circle on your calendar. The morning starts off with a 5ft SW swell and long 15-second periods, with glassy conditions. That's a major positive. The afternoon gets even better: the swell bumps up to 6ft from the SW with a very long 18-second period, and the energy jumps to 1863. It stays glassy. The report says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." Over 5ft and with that long period, it's a wave for the competent crew. The period over 15 seconds is very long and powerful, which is perfect for this reef setup, but it can make paddling out a bit tricky with the longer lulls between sets.

Friday the 24th continues with solid 5ft SW swell and clean cross-offshore winds from the NNE. A great follow-up day, but a little smaller in the energy department (1256).

Overall, this is a classic case of waiting it out. The first week is mostly a right-off with strong winds, but the second week, specifically the 23rd and 24th, has some real gems on offer. The water temperature is unstated here, so we'll just call it about average for the season for now. Don't get your hopes up for the early days; surf the weekend on the 23rd instead.

Rusty.

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