Cardiel (Mar del Plata) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here again, looking at the same stretch of water for Cardiel. The bottom line is: we’ve got one solid window and a whole lot of flat, ordinary stuff in between. The water’s at 11° at the start, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but nothing to stress about.

The pick of the bunch is Sunday the 13th, first thing. Clean 1.1m of south swell, 11-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the WSW at 15 km/h. That’s the best of the whole run – combined energy of 337, so there’s a bit of push, and it’s beginner-friendly at that size. The south direction is spot on for Cardiel (Mar del Plata). The wind will keep it glassy. The only caveat is that longer period at a beach break can make it a little straight, but it’s still worth the paddle. Afternoon drops to 0.9m and goes onshore, so don’t bother.

Then we’ve got a dead stretch. Monday the 14th is tiny and clean but barely breaking. Tuesday the 15th has a 1.7m bump in the afternoon, but it’s 8-second windswell with fresh cross-shore winds – lumpy and poor. Wednesday the 16th has 1.6m in the morning with a 9-second period, but the wind is cross-shore and it’s just average. From Thursday the 17th to Monday the 21st, it’s basically flat – swells under a metre, short periods, and winds all over the place. That’s a solid four-day gap of nothing.

Things pick up slightly on Wednesday the 23rd morning. There’s a clean 1.1m south-southeast swell with a 10-second period and a gentle cross-shore breeze – surfable, but the comment says “very ordinary.” Combined energy of 311, so it’s got some life, but it’s not a standout. The afternoon goes onshore and choppy, so hit it early.

Then it’s flat again until Saturday the 26th, which has miserable 0.7m to 0.8m waves with periods of 5 to 6 seconds – that’s weak and barely breaking, even if it’s clean. Sunday the 27th has a touch more – 0.9m at 8 seconds – but the combined energy is only 136, so it’s weak. Light winds keep it clean, but it’s strictly beginner whitewater stuff.

The standout is clearly Sunday the 13th morning. After that, it’s a patience game. Nothing gets over 1.5m in a meaningful way, so no worries about it being too big – it’s more about it being too small. If you’re a beginner, that Sunday session is your window. The rest is just waiting for the next pulse. Forecasts can change, but right now, that’s the honest call.

Catch you later – Rusty.

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