Atlantida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Atlantida over the next couple of weeks.

We’re starting off with a bit of a slow grind. The first few days are a bit of a write-off for a proper session, with small, weak swell and average conditions. The real story unfolds later, with a massive pulse of energy that’s going to be too big for the lineup, and then a promising window of cleaner, powerful swell for the experienced crew right at the end.

Wednesday, 22 July through Friday, 24 July is pretty flat. The wave heights are barely scraping 4 ft, and the setup is messy. Thursday morning sees a jump in the swell to 7 ft from the SSE, but the wind is a cross-shore, and the combined energy is moderate (759). The report says it’s marginal, and honestly, the conditions are a little lumpy. Not worth paddling out for.

Saturday, 25 July shows some promise. The morning brings a clean 6 ft swell from the ESE with a light cross-offshore wind from the WSW. The combined energy is moderate (510) and the report says "expect very good surf conditions". This is the first decent window, but it’s not the standout of the whole period.

Then we drift into a few days of small, clean but weak surf. Sunday, 26 July and Monday, 27 July mornings are glassy with 3 ft to 4 ft swells from the ESE. The period is short (8-9 seconds), so the waves will be a bit weak and soft. You could get a few fun ones on a log, but it’s not going to get the heart pumping.

From Tuesday, 28 July through Thursday, 30 July, the swell drops right off. The combined energy falls to very low levels (139 down to 108), and the wind is onshore or cross-shore. It’s a poor stretch.

Friday, 31 July is where things get interesting, but not for the faint of heart. The swell jumps to 10 ft from the ENE with a very strong combined energy of 1044. The forecast says it’s too big for this break. This is strictly for experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a beast. The wind is a cross-shore, so it’ll be lumpy and challenging.

Saturday, 1 August through Monday, 3 August is the same story – massive, powerful swell. The heights are 10 ft to 12 ft from the E and ENE, with combined energy readings hitting 4303. The wind is glassy or light and offshore on some mornings, but the break is simply overwhelmed. This is not a paddle session; the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The real standout for the period comes at the very end. Wednesday, 6 August is the one to circle on your calendar. The morning is glassy calm, with a 7 ft swell from the ESE. The period is a very long 14 seconds, which means groundswell with real power and shape. The combined energy is very strong (1764). The report says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers". This is the best on offer. The swell direction (ESE) is a good match for the optimum (SSE), and the glassy wind will make it clean and hollow. This is a call for the advanced crew, as the size and power are not for beginners. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual to report.

Thursday, 5 August is a decent runner-up, with a 8 ft to 8 ft swell from the ESE, period of 11-14 seconds, and light winds. The combined energy is strong (1219-2387), so it’s got plenty of juice, but the conditions are a touch more cross-shore or onshore. Still a good session for the experienced surfer.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a bit of a dud. The second week is a beast, too big for most. The real prize is the glassy, groundswell on Thursday, 6 August at Atlantida. Set your alarm for that one.

Rusty.

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