Bolsa Chica Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a pretty flat run for a while. The first recommendation doesn’t even pop up until Tuesday, August 18th, and even then it’s a real marginal affair. The surf is small and the conditions are tricky, so you’ll need to be patient. There’s a bit of a gap of quiet days after that, too.

The only break on the radar is Bolsa Chica. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, fairly consistent, but it’s exposed to the SW swell. The water is sitting at a touch warmer than normal at 70°, which is about a degree and a half above the usual for this time of year.

Let’s start with the first decent window. On Tuesday morning, August 18th, the swell is a tiny 2 feet from the SSW with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s groundswell energy, but it’s weak, with a combined energy of only 311. The wind is light and onshore, so it’s not going to be great. The best call is the Tuesday morning session, but it’s still a “marginal” call, with a score of 1 out of 10. The morning is the only time to look, as the afternoon turns into a cross-onshore chop.

The next slight pulse comes in on Wednesday morning, August 19th, with a similar 3 feet SSW swell and a 15-second period. The wind is a light onshore breeze, so it’s still a bit bumpy. Again, a 1 out of 10 score. The energy is a little higher at 328, but it’s still not enough to get excited about.

Things get a bit more interesting on Saturday, August 29th. The morning shows a 3 feet SSW swell with a 16-second period and a combined energy of 473. The wind is light onshore, and the forecast is still “marginal” for the morning. The afternoon is a write-off.

Then, on Sunday, August 30th, the morning offers a 3 feet SSW swell, also with a 15-second period. The energy is 461, and the wind is light onshore. It’s the biggest swell of the whole period, but it’s still only a 1 out of 10 in the morning. The afternoon is poor.

So, the standout? There’s not a true standout. If I had to pick one, it would be the Sunday morning, August 30th at Bolsa Chica. That 3 feet SSW swell is the biggest, and with a light onshore breeze, it’s the best of a bad bunch. The long period (15-16 seconds) means the waves will have some shape, but at a beach break like Bolsa Chica, it might break a bit too straight. Still, for a beginner, it’s a window.

The second week is a similar story. On Wednesday morning, September 2nd, there’s a 2 feet SW swell with a 16-second period, but the wind is cross-shore, making for a bit of chop. Still just a 1 out of 10.

Bottom line: it’s a quiet, small-swell period. The water is a touch warm, but the waves are not. Don’t get your hopes up. If you’re desperate, the morning of the 30th of August is the best bet.

Rusty.

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