Winki Pop Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag on the cards for Winki Pop over the next couple of weeks, with one absolute stand-out session that’s got me frothing.

The main story this week is a building, then pulsing, SW groundswell. It starts off ordinary on Sunday the 12th, with a 4ft SW swell but a fresh 22 mph breeze making it feel like more work than it’s worth. The wave energy’s only moderate at 528, so I’d give it a miss. Monday the 13th sees the swell starting to kick, up to 8ft and 8ft from the SW, with a nice long 16-second period. The wind is offshore and fresh, keeping it clean, but with that much power – wave energy jumping to 2513 – the lines are going to be a bit raw and challenging. This is definitely one for the experienced crew only.

Now, the real gem. Tuesday the 14th. We’ve got a 13ft to 15ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at 11546 – that’s a seriously strong pulse of energy. The wind drops right out to a gentle to moderate cross-off, keeping the surface clean. For an advanced spot like Winki Pop, which needs a solid SW swell and a NW wind to really shine, this is as good as it gets. The direction is spot on, the power is huge, and the conditions will be clean. This is the standout of the whole outlook. If you’re an expert, you do not want to miss Tuesday morning. The afternoon drops off a touch but is still solid at 13ft (9173 energy).

After Tuesday, the swell backs down quickly. Wednesday the 15th is still solid with 5ft to 6ft SW swell and gentle offshore winds, but it’s a big step down in energy. Thursday the 16th sees smaller 4ft SSW swell, but the wind goes glassy in the afternoon – dead calm – so it’ll be a beautiful, clean session on the smaller waves. That’s a perfect window for the advanced surfer who wants to pick off clean, long rides without the huge power.

Friday the 17th has a nice 5ft SW swell with a long 16-second period and a slight offshore breeze in the morning – clean lines again. But from Saturday the 18th, it all fizzles. The swell drops to under 3ft, and while the winds stay okay, the energy is flat. There’s a stretch from the 18th to the 21st of July where the surf is small and ordinary, with only marginal conditions on offer.

There is a little glimmer on Thursday the 23rd. We get a 4ft SW swell out of nowhere, with glassy conditions in the morning – dead flat calm. The period is a solid 15 seconds, and the energy is 818. That’s a sneaky, clean morning session that could surprise. Then on Friday the 24th, another 5ft SW swell with a 17-second period and a slight cross-off breeze offers some more clean, decent waves for the experienced crowd. Both of these are promising but more than a week out, so keep an eye on the forecast.

For the rest of the second week, from the 25th onward, it’s messy with onshore or strong cross-off winds and dropping swell. By Monday the 27th, we’re just watching a 4ft SW swell get blown out by a fresh 19 mph breeze. Not worth the paddle.

Overall, the one to circle on the calendar is Tuesday the 14th. That’s the big one. For the more casual sessions, Thursday the 16th afternoon and Thursday the 23rd morning are your glassy, clean windows. Don’t expect a long run of excellent surf; it’s a spike and then a slow fade.

Stay safe, surf smart.

Rusty.

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