Barceloneta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. We’re looking at a near-total flat spell. The combined swell energy barely tickles the meter, never even getting into double digits (0 to 31). There’s nothing to chase for the vast majority of the forecast. From now through the 20th of August, the surf is basically non-existent. There are a few mornings where the water goes glassy, but without a wave to ride, that’s just a nice view.

The only spot we’ve got is Barceloneta. It’s a beginner-friendly beach break, but it’s inconsistent and with crowds sometimes. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing weird there.

Let’s walk through the gloom. On Thursday the 6th of August, it’s dead flat. Friday morning the 7th is glassy but with a tiny 0.7ft swell from the SSW at a short 3 seconds – that’s barely a ripple. Same story for Saturday and Sunday mornings; clean skies but no power. The pattern repeats through the middle of the month: tiny, short-period swell from the SE or SSW, never pushing above 2ft, and the period is usually a pathetic 4 seconds. The best we see is a brief window on Monday the 17th of August morning. The wind goes dead calm, glassy conditions, with a little 2ft swell from the ESE at 4 seconds. The combined energy hits 29, which is still weak, but it’s the highest we’ve got. The problem is that short period swell at a beach break will just be lumpy crumbles. The morning of the 18th is similar, still glassy but with the same tiny, weak swell.

The standouts? Honestly, there aren’t any. If I had to pick the best of a bad lot, it’d be Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th of August in the morning at Barceloneta. The swell direction is ESE, which is the worst possible direction for this spot – it’s exposed, but the optimum swell is from the ESE, so at least the tiny bit of energy we have is coming from the right angle. The wind is glassy, so the water will be like a mirror, but the swell is too small and weak to do anything fun on a paddleboard, let alone a surfboard. For a beginner, you might get a knee-high dribble, but don’t expect much.

For the rest of the run, it’s a washout. The wind picks up a lot, especially on the 19th and 20th with cross-shore and onshore winds, making it choppy. There’s just no swell to work with. This is a proper blank run for the area, so it’s not unusual. Forecasts can change, but for now, I’d leave the boards at home.

Rusty.

Read more