El Balneario Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s break down what El Balneario is serving up over the next 16 days, and I gotta be honest – it’s pretty grim. The water temp is 66°F, which is nearly 7°F colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll definitely feel that chill.

The whole stretch starts off dead slow. From Friday the 4th right through to Monday the 7th of September, that’s a solid 3 days of flatness. The combined wave energy is barely ticking over in the single digits (2 to 4). Winds are offshore, keeping the water smooth, but there’s simply no wave to catch.

Come Monday morning the 7th, we finally see a little pulse. Swell hits 1 ft from the WNW with a period of 15 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell, meaning nice lines but long waits between sets. Combined energy is 58, still weak but enough for a surfable wave. Winds are light offshore from the E, so conditions will be clean. This is a beginner-friendly spot, so if you’re learning or just want to stretch the arms, Monday morning is your best shot. Crowds are a “sometimes” thing here, so don’t be surprised if a few others have the same idea.

Tuesday the 8th through Thursday the 10th slides back into poor form. Swell sits around 2 ft to 3 ft, but the wind swings onshore from the W and WSW, ruining any chance of quality. Combined energy hits 121 on Tuesday morning, but the onshore breeze means it’s a washing machine.

Friday the 11th to Sunday the 13th is flat again – combined energy in the single digits or low 20s. Glassy conditions at times, but nothing to ride.

From Monday the 14th to Wednesday the 16th of September, the wind rips hard from the E at 25 to 28 mph. That’s strong offshore wind, which cleans the surface, but the swell is tiny (0.6 ft to 3 ft) with short periods (5-7 seconds). With such low energy (7 to 77 combined), this setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The wind will also make paddling out a real battle.

There’s a little bump on Wednesday morning the 16th with a 3 ft WNW swell, but the period is a weak 7 seconds and the energy is moderate at best (77). Conditions stay clean with offshore wind, but it won’t be anything special.

Thursday the 17th to Saturday the 19th – the last few days – the swell drops back to 1 ft or less. The wind stays fresh offshore, keeping things tidy, but there’s just not enough water moving.

Where’s the standout? There isn’t one. The best on offer is Monday morning the 7th of September: 1 ft WNW groundswell, light offshore breeze, clean conditions, and a nice long period that might give you a few quality waves. It’s for beginners, the water is freezing, and the energy is weak (58). After that, it’s either flat, blown out, or too windy to paddle.

If you really need a session, go Monday the 7th. Otherwise, give it a miss – forecasts can always change, but right now this is a rough patch.

Rusty.

Read more