Zero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a 16-day window to look at, but I’ll be honest with you, the first week or so is pretty grim. The only break on the cards is "Zero" – a point break that’s a beginner spot but, and this is a big but, it rarely breaks. So, don’t get your hopes up for a quick fix.

The pattern for the next week or so is small, inconsistent swells with a lot of onshore wind. The forecast kicks off on Thursday, 23 July. There’s a little bit of swell from the south at 3 ft, with a period of 13 seconds, but the wind is a cross-shore from the WSW at 9 mph, which is just enough to put a bit of a chop on it. The water is a warm 71°, which is a massive 8° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, we’re basically surfing in a bath. The combined energy is moderate at 531. It’s not great, but it’s something.

We roll through the weekend and into next week, and it’s more of the same. The swell hangs around 2 ft to 3 ft, mostly from the SSW, with periods all over the shop, from a very long 24 seconds on Friday, 24 July, down to 17 seconds later. That long period stuff, like that 24-second groundswell, can be a bit tricky at a point break – it might offer some nice lines, but it can also be a bit straight. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, which kills the quality. The combined energy stays moderate, hitting up to 741 on Tuesday, 28 July, but it’s all just marginal.

Now, the end of the month and the start of August finally show a bit of life. On Friday, 31 July, the swell picks up to 4 ft from the SSE with a 16-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1133. The wind on the morning is onshore, but the afternoon looks better with a cross-shore from the west at 9 mph. For a point break that almost never breaks, this is a standout. The swell direction from the SSE is a bit off from the ideal SSW, but the size and energy are there. If you’re an experienced surfer, this is your window.

Saturday, 1 August, is the other one to circle. The swell is 6 ft from the south with a 14-second period – that’s starting to get a bit big for beginners, but for the rest of you, it’s game on. The combined energy is very strong at 1114. The morning wind is onshore, but the afternoon swings to a light cross-shore from the west at 6 mph, which should clean it up nicely. This is likely the best of the whole run, a real standout.

After that, it all fades away quickly. By Sunday, 2 August, it’s dropping to 4 ft, and the energy is back to a weak 369. The wind is onshore again, and the quality drops off a cliff. From Monday, 3 August, right through to the 7th, the swell is tiny – 1 ft to 2 ft – with weak energy (92 to 127) and persistent cross-onshore winds. It’s basically a flat spell with poor surf conditions. That’s a 5-day gap of nothing worth paddling out for.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a washout for a spot that rarely breaks anyway. The only real chances are on Friday, 31 July, and Saturday, 1 August, with Saturday being the standout. The rest of the run is a write-off. Keep your eyes on the forecasts, because it can’t stay this poor for long.

Rusty.

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