Algarrobo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s get into it. The surf window here kicks off Friday the 31st of July, and we’re starting out with a bit of a rough patch. The swell is there, around 6ft, but it’s coming from the WNW at a period of 10 seconds, and that light rain with a 25 km/h cross-offshore wind makes it feel a bit messy. The energy is moderate at best (1020). It's surfable for sure, but you’ll be working for it. Water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about normal for this time of year.

Friday afternoon backs right off, dropping to 4ft. That one’s not worth paddling out for.

Saturday the 1st of August is where things start to look up. The swell switches around to the southwest with a much better period of 13 seconds, and the wave energy builds a little (645). Winds are light and cross-offshore, so the surface stays clean. By the afternoon, that period holds at 12 seconds, and the energy picks up (757). This is definitely the pick of the first few days. The break is Algarrobo, a reef/pier setup that’s very consistent, so you’ll get waves.

Sunday the 2nd is the big one of the first week. The swell jumps to 8ft from the W at 11 seconds, and the energy kicks up to a strong 1520. The morning is looking clean with light offshore winds. That’s a solid, powerful wave. It’s got some push to it, so it’s for the experienced crew. Afternoon stays big at 8ft, but that cross-shore wind and the bumpy texture take the shine off it a bit.

Monday the 3rd sees the swell drop back to 7ft, and the south winds start to push in a bit of cross-onshore chop. It’s still got size, but it’s not going to be as clean as Sunday morning.

The South winds build through Tuesday the 4th, with 15-20 km/h winds making it choppy in the morning and poor by the afternoon. Not a good day.

Wednesday the 5th, the period drops to 16 seconds in the afternoon with some size at 6ft, but that onshore wind is still messing with it. There’s energy there (1698), but the surface is just not cooperating.

Now, here’s the first real standout for the future: Thursday the 6th of August. The wind goes completely glassy, both morning and afternoon, with a clean 5ft of west-southwest swell running on a 13-second period. This is going to be clean, well-ordered, and beautiful. The energy is moderate (875-893), but with that kind of wind, it’ll surf way bigger than the number suggests. That’s the one to circle.

Friday the 7th and the weekend start to fade. The swell drops back to 4-5ft, and the winds turn cross-onshore again. We’ve got a few poor-to-marginal days on our hands.

The middle of the week from the 10th to the 12th looks small and inconsistent. We’re looking at around 4ft to 2ft waves. The 12th gets really gutless.

But then, the second-week gem appears. On Wednesday the 13th, the period jumps to 17 seconds, but the swell is tiny at 2ft. Not enough to get you going. However, that long period is a tell for the next day. On Thursday the 14th of August, the swell from the WNW kicks in at 4ft with a 17-second period, and the wave energy is strong (1174). It’s a long-period groundswell, which is great for a reef/pier like Algarrobo. It should wrap in cleanly. The winds are a bit cross-onshore, but with that period, there should be some nice lines to be had. It’s a promising day, but it’s over a week away, so treat it with a bit of caution.

The 15th brings in more of the same, but with a shorter period and stronger winds. It’s back to the onshore chop by the afternoon.

So, your two standouts are Thursday the 6th of August for the clean, glassy conditions with a solid 5ft swell, and that long-period groundswell on Thursday the 14th of August. The 6th is the sure thing, the 14th is the promise of something special if it holds together. Good luck out there.

Rusty

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