Algarrobo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for Algarrobo. This is not a pretty picture for the next couple of weeks, I gotta be honest with you. The entire 16-day window is a tough slog, and there’s no standout day to circle on the calendar. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions, with a few periods that are only marginal at best.

The most promising window, if you can call it that, is around Sunday the 6th of September. The water temp is currently sitting at 58°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least it’s not freezing. On Sunday morning, we’ve got a 5ft swell from the SW, with a long period of 15 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, but it’s coming in with a light cross-onshore breeze (10 km/h). The combined energy is moderate at 1079, so there’s some push. For a reef setup like Algarrobo, that long period could actually be a good thing, offering some shape. But the wind is just enough to keep it from being clean. Sunday afternoon sees the wind swing to straight onshore, making it even less appealing. It’s a marginal call at best.

Honestly, the rest of the outlook is grim. From Friday the 4th right through to Saturday the 19th of September, nearly every session is tagged as “poor surf conditions.” The wind is a constant problem—a relentless cross-onshore that never lets up, often blowing at 12 to 16 mph, and even hitting 25 mph on the final Saturday afternoon. That’s strong cross-onshore and messy, barely surfable. The swell heights fluctuate between 2ft and 5ft, but the periods are all over the place, from a short 6 seconds up to 19 seconds, but the wind keeps chopping everything up. The combined energy drops off significantly after that first weekend, down to weak levels in the 200s and 300s (e.g., 251 on the 16th). There are a few mornings with lighter breezes, like the 13th of September, but the swell is tiny (2ft) and the wind is still cross-onshore, so it’s not making the grade.

There is no true standout. I can’t in good conscience recommend any of these as a “go” session. The entire 16 days is a write-off for quality surfing. The break is consistent, but the conditions are just not cooperating. For a reef set-up with this persistent cross-onshore, it’s a kite-surfing breeze more than it is a paddler’s dream. Hang tight, folks. Forecasts can change, but right now, this is a long wait for a clean wave.

Rusty.

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