Almanarre Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking.

Honestly, I’ve got to be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead for Almanarre. Over the next 16 days, the forecast is pretty grim for surf. The first week is basically a write-off, with flat spells and messy, onshore winds that just won’t give us a break. The water’s sitting at a very unusual 79°F, so it’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only perk. The first 6 days are a total gap – nothing worth paddling out for. Then things get a little interesting, but it’s still not great.

Monday 24th August into Tuesday is just poor: no swell at all, just clean but flat conditions. The rest of the week shows tiny bits of weak SW swell, but it’s too small and too short-period (5-6 seconds) to do anything with. The wind is mostly offshore or cross-off, keeping it clean, but with combined energy values in the teens and twenties – basically just a ripple.

Friday 28th August we see a little bump – 2 ft from the WSW at 5 seconds, but by afternoon it’s cross-onshore and choppy. Not the one.

Saturday 29th August is where we get the biggest swell of the whole outlook: 4 ft in the morning building to 5 ft in the afternoon, from the west, with a period of 5-6 seconds. But here’s the thing – it’s blown out by strong onshore winds (19-25 mph), making it a messy, choppy mess. Combined energy hits 175 in the afternoon, so there’s power, but the quality is garbage. This is a beach-and-reef setup, and honestly, with this wind and swell, it looks more like a kite-surfing zone than a paddle-surf session.

Monday 31st August morning is the closest thing to a standout, and even then it’s a long shot. The swell is tiny – 1.0 ft from the southwest at 4 seconds – but the wind goes glassy from the NNE, so it’s dead calm. If you’ve got a longboard and zero expectations, you might find a knee-high ripple. The combined energy is just 2, though.

Tuesday 1st September afternoon pushes 5 ft from the west with a 6-second period, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy again – 162 combined energy but no quality.

Friday 4th September afternoon is the last bit of hope: 6 ft from the west at 6 seconds, but with a fresh breeze onshore at 22 mph, the combined energy of 205 just means it’s a washing machine. Expert surfers might find a closeout, but beginners should stay well away – anything over 5 ft is too much for them here in these conditions.

Bottom line: no real standouts. The whole 16-day window is poor for surf at Almanarre. We get a few pulses of moderate energy, but the wind and short period ruin every one. For a spot that’s exposed to the SW, the optimum direction, it just doesn’t line up. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, but this week they’ll be staying home. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d say keep the board in the car and wait for a better window.

Rusty.

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