Cardiel (Mar del Plata) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m Rusty, and here’s the outlook for you in feet, miles per hour, and Fahrenheit.

The 16-day window is a mixed bag for Cardiel (Mar del Plata). The water temperature is about 51°F, which is a notable 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year – so the water feels a bit milder than average. We’ve got a slow start, but a couple of windows of opportunity pop up, especially around Monday afternoon and into the middle of next week. The standout conditions look more promising for experienced surfers during the second week.

Sunday morning, August 2, is just a teaser. You’ve got small 2ft swell from the east at 10 seconds, but the combined energy is weak (129). The wind is a gentle cross-offshore from the north, so it’s clean, but very ordinary. Not worth rushing for.

Monday, August 3, starts to show some life. The morning has 4ft from the SSE at 10 seconds – decent energy (342) – but the wind is a light cross from the NNE, just okay. The real highlight comes Monday afternoon: 4ft from the SSE with a slightly longer 11-second period, and combined energy bumps up to 379. The wind goes glassy from the northwest. That’s clean, workable surf, and the best on offer for the first few days.

Tuesday, August 4, morning is clean too, with 3ft from the SE at 10 seconds (222 energy), and a light cross-off from the WSW. It’s a good session for a beginner or a longboard. Afternoon gets messy with cross-shore wind.

Wednesday, August 5, is small again – 2ft from the SE – and the energy drops below 100. Clean but tiny.

Thursday and Friday, August 6 and 7, are poor. The swell is either tiny or short-period junk, and the wind gets strong. Friday morning has 4ft but from the ENE at a pitiful 6 seconds, with a strong 28 mph cross-offshore wind – that’s just messy, more kite-surfing territory than paddle-surfing.

Saturday, August 8, sees a big jump in size. The swell hits 6ft from the SSW at 10 seconds, with solid energy (663), but the wind is a near-gale 31 mph offshore from the WNW. It’s too difficult to paddle into comfortably. By afternoon, it’s 8ft from the SSW (1281 energy) – way too big for this break, and only for experts. Same story Sunday, August 9: 7ft to 8ft from the south, huge energy (1495–1691), but those powerful offshore winds (22 mph) and overhead waves mean it’s strictly for the pros.

Monday, August 10, is still big – 7ft from the south at 11 seconds – but with a fresh cross-offshore wind, it’s a marginal call. The energy is still very high (1745), so it’s a powerful, tricky day.

Now, the true standout of the whole forecast: Tuesday, August 11, morning. You’ve got 6ft from the SSW at 10 seconds, with massive energy (1207), and a gentle 9 mph cross-offshore wind from the WSW. The water is clean, the swell is strong but not crazy, and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is the best session on offer – a proper South swell hitting the exposed break, and the wind is cooperating. Afternoon gets a bit cross-shore, so hit it early.

From Wednesday, August 12, onwards, the quality drops off. The wind goes onshore or cross-shore from the east-northeast, and the swell stays around 4ft from the SSE, but it’s choppy and lumpy. Thursday, August 13, is even worse with fresh cross-shore winds. The final weekend, August 15–17, sees small, weak energy (under 200) and mostly poor conditions, with only a glassy moment on Monday morning, August 17, with 3ft from the east. That’s surfable but very ordinary.

So, if you’re ready for a challenge, aim for August 11 morning – that’s the real deal. The rest is mostly small, windy, or too big for comfort.

Rusty

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