Budeo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, guys and gals, Rusty here, taking a hard look at the next 16 days for the home zone around Budeo. I’m gonna level with you – this stretch isn’t filled with winners, but there are a couple of windows where the ocean might just give us a bit of a welcome mat.

From the get-go, it’s a bit of a shoulder-shrug forecast. Tuesday morning, August 11, we do have a chest-high pulse of SW groundswell at about 5ft with a 13-second interval. It’s got some moderate juice (919 energy), but the wind’s cross-onshore from the SW at 6 mph, so it’s got that bumpy skin on it. Water’s notably warmer than usual – about 65°F, which is a huge 5°F above normal, so shorts and a vest might be all you need. It’s 'rideable if you aren’t fussy,' to be honest.

Then come Wednesday and Thursday (August 12-14), the swell just fades to about 3-3ft, with periods in the 11-12 second range. The wind stays light cross-onshore out of the SW at 6 mph, so you’re dealing with a bit of ripple. Energy readings are on the weak side (271-540). Thursday morning does see a long-period pulse at 18 seconds, but the size is so down that it’s a tease more than a treat.

The weekend and early next week are a steady diet of small, wind-affected surf. Saturday and Sunday (August 15-16) are similar – waist-high slop, with the wind backing off to light onshore on Sunday. Monday (August 17) is more of the same, not really worth a drive.

But look, there’s a glimmer on Tuesday morning, August 18. The sky clears, the wind drops to a light 3-6 mph onshore, and the swell nudges up to about 4ft from the SW, with a 13-second period. It’s not huge, but it’s the most size we’ve seen, and the energy is moderate (560). That’s your best bet for the first week, just to be clear.

Mid-week, August 19-20, brings another pulse – small, but with a 15-16 second interval. Wednesday morning’s got a cross-shore S wind at 9 mph that adds a bit of jumble, though Thursday’s light cross-onshore is a bit more forgiving. Still, everything’s undersized.

Then we hit the flat spell. From Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 23, the swell collapses to 1-2ft, with energy readings barely breaking 100 (92-177). That’s a couple of days where you might as well wax your board and look at photos.

The final days, from Monday, August 24, we see a slight uptick – 4-4ft of SW swell, but with shorter periods (8-11 seconds) and more onshore wind, especially by Wednesday. Tuesday morning, August 25, offers a little hope with a 4ft, 11-second swell and a light cross-onshore, but it’s still a marginal call.

So, if you’re holding out for the highlight, set your alarm for Tuesday morning, August 18, at Budeo (Exposed) – that 4ft, 13-second SW swell with light wind is the cleanest we’ll see. Otherwise, keep your expectations low. The water’s unusually warm here, sitting at 65°F, which is nearly 5 degrees above the norm – that’s about as warm as it gets for us.

This run isn’t a wash, but it’s close. The forecast can shift, so don’t write it off completely, but don’t block out your calendar either. Check back with me in a few days.

- Rusty

Read more