Chapadmalal Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get straight into it.

The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, with a proper pulse of energy coming through early next week, but you’re going to have to sit through some junky, blown-out days before we get the good stuff. And then there’s a big, powerful swell right at the end of the window that’s going to be one for the experienced crew only.

Chapadmalal (Argentina) is the only break on the radar, and it’s a point break that’s fairly consistent, so there’s always a chance. The water temp is sitting at 51°F, which is a solid 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s noticeable, a bit of a silver lining for your hands and feet.

The weekend starts off a bit rough. Saturday morning has a clean-looking 5ft SW swell, but that west wind is blowing 25 mph cross-offshore, making it hard to get a clean one. The energy is weak, only 305, and it just looks messy. The afternoon builds to 7ft with more energy, but the wind is still howling, so it’s not worth the paddle.

Sunday morning is where it starts to get interesting. The swell is up to 7ft from the SSW with a 9-second period, and the energy jumps to 842. The wind is cross-off at 22 mph, but they’re calling it “clean” – that’s a big window. The only issue is the swell is predicted to be just a touch too big for this break, so it might be closing out. By the afternoon, the wind swings south-southwest and it gets messy again.

Monday sees a change. The morning is a letdown – a 5ft SE swell with a long 12-second period, but the wind is cross-shore and it looks average. The afternoon, though, is the first real standout. The swell jumps to 8ft from the SSE with that same long 12-second period, and the energy is pumping hard at 2561. The wind is light at 9 mph, but it’s cross-shore, so you’ll get some lines. It’s still predicted to be too big for the break, which is a shame.

Now, Tuesday morning is the one to circle. The swell drops slightly to 6ft from the SSE, but the period is 11 seconds and the energy is strong at 1370. The wind is light at 6 mph and cross-offshore, which is about as good as it gets. The comment is “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is your best window in the first week. The afternoon is a letdown, with the wind turning onshore.

After that, the middle of the week goes flat and junky. Wednesday and Thursday have small, weak swells with cross-onshore winds. The energy drops into the low hundreds, and it’s just not worth getting wet for.

Friday morning, the 14th, is a small one – 3ft from the SSE, but the wind is light and cross-off. The comment says “expect good surf conditions,” but it’s a small-scale affair. You’ll get a few clean ones if you’re patient.

Then we hit a long, dead stretch. From the 15th through the 18th, the swell drops off, the wind goes bad, and we’ve got days of poor surf. The 17th and 18th see the wind howling from the east and southeast, with a rising swell that’s completely blown out. It’s a write-off. The 18th afternoon has an 12ft ESE swell with the energy at 1921, but the wind is near gale-force and cross-shore, creating a total mess. If you’ve got a kite, this might be more your scene than a surfboard.

Now, the big one. Wednesday the 19th is a monster. The swell is a solid 13ft from the ESE, with a 10-11 second period and the energy is massive – 2930 in the morning, cranking up to 4184 in the afternoon. The wind, for once, is offshore from the WNW, light to moderate, and the conditions are clean. This is a serious, serious swell. Too big for this break, and way too big for anyone but the most experienced. This is a “promising but less certain at this range” kind of call, but if it lines up, it’ll be a session you remember. The 20th is still big, but the wind goes bad again.

The final days, the 21st through the 23rd, see the swell dropping back down. Friday the 21st morning looks like a final treat – 6ft from the ESE, 11-second period, 689 energy, and light cross-offshore wind. The comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s a solid, clean, fun-sized day to finish the outlook on a high note. After that, it’s on the way down and the northerly winds pick up.

So, to sum it up: You’ve got two real standouts. Tuesday morning the 11th is your clean, muscular, offshore day that’s perfect for the experienced crew. And then Wednesday the 19th is a big, powerful, offshore groundswell that’s for the brave only. The rest is a mix of small, junky, or blown-out conditions.

Rusty out.

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