15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for 15th Street.

Honestly, mate, I’ve got to be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty ordinary for a proper surf. The first real recommendation doesn’t kick in until Monday the 20th of July, and even then, it’s a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a long stretch of marginal conditions where the tide or the wind is just going to mess things up. The water is sitting at 74°, which is a solid 7° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s seriously unusual, like swimming in a bath.

The consistent swell direction is from the WSW, which is the ideal direction for this spot.

Monday 20th July to Thursday 30th July
This whole period is a bit of a grind. The swell is hanging around 3ft to 5ft, mostly from the SSW or SW, with a long period of 13 to 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, which is great for shape, but it’s falling in a bit too straight here. The combined energy is moderate, sitting between 570 and 1227, but the wind is a constant problem. It’s nearly always onshore or cross-onshore, even if it’s a light breeze, which means the surface is going to be choppy or at least a bit bumpy. There’s no standout clean window in this whole stretch.

Friday 31st July
This is the one day that gets a bit of a pulse. The swell picks up to 5ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon from the south, with a period of 13-14 seconds. The energy jumps to 1097-1132, which is a solid, moderate push. The wind is offshore from the WNW, so it’ll be clean. That’s a proper window. The 6ft afternoon swell is a bit meaty for beginners, but for everyone else, it’s the best it’ll be all week. The wind is clean, the swell has some grunt, and it’s the only day that really offers a chance.

Saturday 1st August to Monday 3rd August
We drop right back off. The swell fades to 2ft to 3ft, and the energy plummets to the 200-400 range. The wind is back onshore or cross-onshore. It’s a dead period. Not worth getting the wetsuit wet.

Tuesday 4th August
We get another late push. Swell builds to 5ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon from the south, with a period of 15 seconds. The energy is serious – 1403 and 1583, which is strong, powerful water. The wind is offshore from the WNW. This is the other standout, but it’s a long way out, so take it with a pinch of salt. That 6ft, 15-second groundswell with offshore wind is about as good as it gets, but it’s a fair wait for it.

So, if you’re desperate, the 31st of July morning or the 4th of August morning are your best bets. The setup here is a beach and reef, and with the wind on it, it’s not really kite-friendly unless the wind really picks up. For now, it’s a waiting game. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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