Winki Pop Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got the Winki Pop outlook. This one’s a ripper, but you’ve gotta be patient and pick your windows. The overall pattern is a slow build into a solid, powerful winter swell, but the first few days are a write-off, so don’t bother paddling out until Thursday morning.

The window opens on Thursday the 23rd of July. It’s not a perfect start, but the swell is already pumping. Morning sees a 12 ft SW swell with a 14-second period. The wind is cross-off from the W at 12 mph, which will keep things reasonably clean for the advanced crew. The combined swell energy is strong (6482). It’s a big, powerful swell, so this is for experienced surfers only. By the afternoon, the swell jumps to 13 ft from the SW, still 14 seconds, wind stays cross-off. The energy is cranking (7508), but it’s on the edge of being too raw for most.

Now, the standout. Friday the 24th of July morning is the best on offer. The swell is 13 ft from the SW, but the period stretches to 15 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The wind is cross-off from the W at 12 mph, and the combined energy is massive (11020). The water temperature is 57°F, which is about average for the time of year, so it’s a standard winter session. For a point-and-reef like Winki Pop, that long-period SW groundswell will wrap in beautifully, offering deep, powerful lines. It’s got “excellent” conditions written all over it for the experienced surfers. Crowds are often here, so expect company.

The swell drops back over the weekend, but it’s still chunky. Saturday the 25th holds 12 ft to 10 ft SW swell (12 seconds), with cross-off wind. Not as good as Friday, but still solid. The energy drops from 4685 to 3683. By Sunday the 26th, the swell dips to 4 ft, but the wind goes offshore from the NW at 6 mph in the afternoon, and the morning has a 4 ft SW swell with a light offshore. The energy is low (430 to 274), but it’s clean. Monday the 27th is a sleeper pick: light offshore wind in the morning, then glassy conditions in the afternoon from the SSW at 3 mph, with a 4 ft SW swell (12 seconds). It’s small but clean, with 552 energy. Good for a log or a fish.

Tuesday the 28th of July is another highlight. The morning has a 5 ft SW swell (13 seconds) with a light offshore WNW breeze, and 738 energy. The afternoon is the real treat: the swell picks up to 6 ft from the SSW, period stretches to 15 seconds, and it goes glassy. That’s 1645 energy and “excellent” conditions for experienced surfers. The combination of a long-period SSW groundswell and glassy wind at Winki Pop is a classic winter treat.

After that, the week turns messy. From Wednesday the 29th, the wind switches onshore and cross-onshore from the ESE and SE, the swell drops and gets chopped up. The surf is poor through to the end of the month. The quality is zero for days.

But wait – there’s a promising recovery in the second week. On Saturday the 1st of August, the swell returns overnight. Morning delivers a 5 ft SW swell with a very long 17-second period, light cross-off wind from the NNW, and 1217 energy. The afternoon holds 5 ft at 16 seconds. The wind stays light. This is a promising long-range call, but it’s a week out, so keep an eye on it. Then Sunday the 2nd of August is a cracker: morning has a 5 ft SW swell with a moderate offshore from the WNW at 12 mph, and 946 energy. The afternoon bumps up to 7 ft from the SW (13 seconds) with a gentle offshore, 1911 energy, and “excellent” conditions for experienced surfers. That’s the second standout. Monday the 3rd is still good, but the period drops and the wind shifts, and by Tuesday the 4th the swell drops off with a short 8-second period from the S, so it’s less appealing.

So, the two standouts: Friday the 24th of July morning for the massive, powerful groundswell, and Sunday the 2nd of August afternoon for the clean, solid swell with offshore wind. Tackle the big days with caution – it’s all for the experienced crew. If you’re a beginner, wait for the smaller, cleaner windows on Monday the 27th or the Tuesday afternoon glass-off.

Rusty.

Read more