Castelejo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. We've got a solid window of poor surf conditions kicking things off, and it's going to take a while for anything worthwhile to show up.

The first week is basically a write-off. From Tuesday the 4th through to the 13th, it’s all onshore winds, lumpy, choppy surf, and a whole lot of nothing. The swell energy is weak, and the wind is just going to be ruining what little there is. You're looking at a stretch of at least ten days with no real surf on offer. It's a tough run, but it tends not to stay this poor for long.

If you're desperate, the first real chance we see is around the 15th and 16th. The swell actually bumps up a bit to a consistent 6ft from the NW, and the wind finally drops off. It's still cross-shore, so it won't be perfect, but it's the first time it looks like it might be surfable. The period is only 8 seconds, so it's not going to be powerful, but at least it's something. The energy is moderate, with readings like 371 and 390.

Then we get to the real standout of the whole window, and it's on Monday the 17th. The swell pushes up to 7ft to 7ft from the NNW, with the energy jumping right up into the strong range, hitting 522 and 575. This is the biggest, most powerful swell we see. The wind is light cross-onshore, which is a bit of a bummer, but it's manageable. This is the one to keep an eye on. It's a big swell though, so it's not one for the beginners. Once it's over 5ft, it's getting serious, and this is well past that.

After that, the winds pick back up and things get messy again. There's a lot of energy on the 19th, with readings over 900, but it's all wind-blown and onshore, so it's going to be a washout. If you're looking for a silver lining, the setup on the 15th and 17th looks way more interesting for the kite surfers than for us paddle surfers.

The water at Castelejo is sitting at 66°, which is a good couple of degrees colder than normal for this time of year. It's noticeable, so you'll want the thicker suit.

So, to sum it up: endure the flat and messy first week, keep an eye on Saturday the 15th for a small window, but the best bet by far is Monday the 17th. It's a big, powerful swell, but it's the only proper one we get. Don't get too excited about the long range, though; forecasts this far out are always a bit of a gamble.

Rusty.

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