Bolsa Chica Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about Bolsa Chica. This is a bit of a tough one for the next couple of weeks.

The early part of the outlook is looking pretty flat and messy. We’ve got some swell rolling in, but it’s not really coming together for a good session. The first few days, starting Tuesday the 28th, we’re looking at waves around 3ft to 4ft, but the wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, which is going to mess up the face. The combined energy is moderate, around 639 to 796, but the conditions are just not clean enough to get excited about. It’s that kind of lumpy, bumpy stuff that makes you work for nothing.

The water is seriously warm right now – 72°, which is over 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, feels like bath water.

We see a few windows where the wind is light, like Thursday morning (30th July) with a light breeze from the SSW, but the swell is still on the small side at 4ft from the S. The period is a long 14 seconds, which is a groundswell, but it’s breaking with a cross-onshore wind. It’s not a total write-off, but it’s marginal.

The real standout, if you can call it that, is Friday morning, the 31st of July. Swell is 5ft from the S, with a 14-second period, and a light SSW breeze. The combined energy is moderate (736). For a beginner spot like Bolsa Chica, that’s about as good as it gets in this window. The waves will be small enough to learn on, but with that long period, you’ll get some decent lines. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best of a pretty average bunch.

After that, it drops off a cliff. From Saturday the 1st of August through to Wednesday the 12th, the swell drops to 1ft to 3ft, with poor to marginal conditions marked by onshore and cross-onshore winds. The combined energy drops to weak levels, often under 200. This is a long stretch of nothing. The wind is mostly from the SW or S, and the waves are just too small and weak to hold any shape.

It’s a long wait for something that looks a little better. Wednesday the 12th of August morning shows a slight uptick: 2ft from the SW, with a very long 18-second period, and a light cross-onshore wind. The combined energy climbs back to a moderate 442. It’s still only marginal, but that long period groundswell might throw a few clean lines at the point if the tide is right. It’s a long-range hope, so don’t plan your life around it.

Overall, the best bet is Friday morning, the 31st of July. It’s not a world-class day, but it’s the only window where the swell, wind, and energy line up enough to make it worth a paddle. The rest of the time, you’re better off doing something else.

Rusty.

Read more