El Confital Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s in store for us.

Honestly, this is a rough stretch for El Confital. The whole sixteen-day window is a pretty flat, disappointing run. The wave energy stays weak most days, with combined swell readings sitting below 100 (usually around 40 to 80) for the first week and a half. That’s just limp. The swell is barely there, coming in from the north and northwest, mostly under 3 feet. For a spot that’s known to pump with a solid west swell, this northerly angle is just not doing it. The early part of the period up until the 18th of August is really just a flat spell with small, weak, chunky swell.

There is a brief pulse of energy around Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th of August. The combined swell energy climbs into the 200s and 300s (reaching 327 on the 18th morning), and swell heights hit around 4.6ft in the morning and 4.3ft in the afternoon. That is the best we get. The period is around 9 seconds, so it’s mid-range windswell, not a long-period groundswell. But here’s the problem: the wind is cross-shore and moderate, so it’s going to be a bit messy. There’s no offshore or glassy wind in sight. This window probably looks more interesting for kite surfing than clean paddle surfing.

After the 22nd, it drops right back into the doldrums – tiny waves and low energy again.

Water temperature on the morning of the 11th is about 75°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit.

If you’re a beginner, the tiny days are safe but boring. The only session with any real push – around 4.6ft on the 18th – is more for experienced surfers, but the chop will make it a bit of a battle. Crowds are *often* an issue here, so on any half-decent day, you won’t be alone.

To sum up: it’s a two-week flat spell punctuated by one moderate, choppy pulse in the middle. No standouts here, I’m afraid.

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