Winkipop Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Winkipop over the next couple of weeks.

The pattern shaping up is a typical winter run for this part of the world. We’re looking at a solid pulse of swell to start the period, but the wind is going to be the main character for the first few days, making things tricky. The early part of the outlook is pretty frustrating for a quality wave like Winkipop, with bumpy conditions and just marginal surf on offer despite the size. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is pretty much average for this time of year.

We kick off on Monday the 6th of July with a solid 10ft SSE swell, but a fresh 19 mph SSE wind is making it cross-off and messy. It’s a clean-looking wave on paper, but the wind is going to be a handful. The combined swell energy is strong at 1613. It carries through to Tuesday the 7th with even more size, hitting 12ft from the SE with a period of 11 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 2771, but again the wind is up at 19 mph from the south, so it’s not the clean, lined-up Winkipop we all dream about.

Wednesday the 8th drops slightly to 8ft from the SE, wind down to 12 mph, but still cross-off. You could get a couple, but it’s not going to be easy. The energy is moderate to strong at 1635. Thursday the 9th is where we start to see a real improvement. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft from the SE, and the wind goes light at 6 mph from the south. The combined energy is 798, and the call is for very good surf. This is a solid window for the experienced crew.

Friday the 10th of July is one of the real standouts here. We’ve got a 5ft SE swell, and the wind goes glassy in the afternoon with a light 3 mph breeze from the southeast. This is the cleanest it’s going to get in this run. The combined energy is 520, and it’s the kind of afternoon where you just want to be in the water. The swell direction is in the SE zone, which works well for this point break. Just be aware, Winkipop can get busy, so expect company.

After that, the swell backs off pretty significantly heading into the second week. Saturday the 11th drops to 4ft from the SE, and the wind swings NW at 12 mph, creating a cross-chop. Sunday is even smaller, with 3ft waves and moderate cross-off winds. We’re in a real lull from the 11th through to the 15th, with surf under 3ft and mostly ordinary conditions. There’s a glimpse of something on the 14th and 15th with a small 3-3ft south swell and gentle offshore winds, but it’s really just ankle-to-knee high.

Now, for the long-range promise. Friday the 17th of July is the other standout. The model is showing a new 8ft S swell with an 11-second period pushing in for the morning. The combined energy is strong at 1351, and we’ve got a light 6 mph west wind keeping it clean. This is a solid groundswell for experienced surfers, but at over 8ft, it’s expert territory. The direction is southerly, which is a touch off the optimum for Winkipop but it’ll still wrap in nicely. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it.

The very end of the run on the 20th and 21st of July shows another big pulse of 12ft south swell arriving, but with fresh cross-off winds. It’s a promising sign for the future, but the conditions aren't quite coming together for a perfect score right at the end.

So, your best chances are clear: Friday afternoon the 10th of July for the cleanest conditions on a fun-sized swell, and Friday morning the 17th of July for a bigger, more powerful session, but hold your judgement until we get closer.

Keep your wetsuit warm. This is Rusty, signing off.

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