15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about 15th Street. It’s a beach and reef setup, consistent, exposed to swell, and the optimum direction is from the WSW. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild.

The outlook starts on Wednesday the 22nd of July, but honestly, it’s a slow and messy start. That first morning, we’ve got a 3ft swell from the SSW, but the wind is cross-on from the WNW at 9 mph, and it’s choppy. The combined energy is moderate (599). Not worth paddling out for. The afternoon doesn’t get any better—still onshore and messy.

Thursday the 23rd stays pretty average. The swell bumps up to 4ft and 4ft through the day, but the wind remains onshore or cross-onshore. The combined energy ticks up to 664–700 (moderate). It’s just not clean.

Friday the 24th morning sees a small 2ft swell, but with a long period of 24 seconds—that’s a proper groundswell. The energy jumps to 1001 (strong). The wind is light cross-onshore. This could shape up nicely at the reef, but it’s small. If you’re an expert looking for a clean but tiny wave, it might be a fun option. The afternoon drops back to average.

Saturday the 25th has a 3ft SSW swell with a very long period of 21 seconds. The morning wind is light onshore, but the energy is strong (1039). Again, a long-period swell like this will break a bit straight on the beach, but the reef might handle it. It’s not a standout, but it’s the best of the first week.

Sunday the 26th is a write-off: cross-shore wind at 12 mph, mixed-up conditions.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th offer the best windows in the first week. The swell sits at 4ft from the SSW, with periods of 18 to 19 seconds—proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong (1211–1281). Monday morning has a cross-on breeze, but Monday afternoon turns light onshore, which is a bit cleaner. Tuesday morning has light cross-onshore wind, and the score is better. This is the best on offer in the first week. The swell is around 4ft, so it’s manageable for most intermediates, and the reef will handle the long period nicely.

The second week starts to fade. Wednesday the 29th through Thursday the 30th sees the swell drop to 4ft–3ft, with periods shortening to 15–16 seconds. The energy drops back to moderate (557–821). The wind is light cross-onshore—decent for a small, clean session, but nothing special.

Now, here’s a little spike: Friday the 31st of July into Saturday the 1st of August. The swell jumps to 6ft–6ft from the S, with a period of 13–14 seconds. The combined energy is strong (1310–1340). The wind is light onshore, so it’s not glassy, but it’s clean enough. This is the standout of the whole forecast. The swell is getting up to 6ft, which is getting too big for beginners, but it’s a great size for experienced surfers. The direction is S, which is not the optimum WSW, but the beach and reef will still pick it up. Definitely the best day to point the car.

After that, from Sunday the 2nd of August onward, it’s a total wipeout. The swell drops to 4ft on Sunday morning, then 3ft, then 2ft, and by the 4th and 5th we’re down to 1ft–2ft. The combined energy falls to weak (138–288). The wind is cross-shore or cross-onshore, and the surf is poor. A long gap of nothing worthwhile from the 2nd to the 6th of August.

So, overall: the first week is marginal, with Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th being the best of a mediocre bunch. The real standout is Friday the 31st of July and Saturday the 1st of August, where the swell pumps up to 6ft–6ft. That’s your window. After that, it’s a long flat spell. Stay tuned, forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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