El Balneario Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on offer. I’m looking at the whole 16-day window, and I gotta tell ya, it’s a bit of a slow start. There’s a gap of several days at the beginning where the surf is really not worth paddling out for. The first real glimmer of anything surfable comes on Wednesday the 2nd of September, but even then, it’s pretty ordinary.

El Balneario is the only spot in the game here. It’s a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent beach break, exposed to the swell. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

The first few days, from Sunday the 30th of August right through to Tuesday the 1st of September, are a write-off. Tiny waves, real small, with poor surf conditions. The energy is very weak, barely registering, like 18 (weak) at best. The wind is offshore, which is nice and clean, but there’s just nothing to push you around.

Wednesday the 2nd of September morning is the first time you can actually get a wave. We’re looking at a 2ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is still weak, at 51, but it’s surfable. The wind is a gentle offshore breeze from the ENE, so the surface will be clean. It’s not going to be a standout, but it’s a start. The afternoon drops off again.

Then we hit another quiet spell. Thursday the 3rd through to Sunday the 6th of September is mostly flat or with tiny, weak 0.3ft to 2ft swells, and the energy is in the single digits or very low teens. Not worth a second look.

Now, the real interest comes in the second week. On Monday the 7th, the wind swings onshore, and the swell is small and messy. But by Tuesday the 8th of September morning, we see a jump in swell height to 3ft from the W, with a period of 6 seconds and energy of 76. Still poor conditions though, with onshore wind.

The best bet and the only true standout in this entire forecast is Thursday the 11th of September. On the morning of the 11th, a 2ft swell from the WNW arrives, but the period is a very long 13 seconds, which is a proper groundswell. The combined energy jumps up to a moderate 173. The wind is offshore from the ENE, at 12 mph, so it’ll be clean. For a long-period swell like this, El Balneario being a beach break might not be perfect – it could break a bit too straight – but with that energy and clean wind, it’s the best you’re going to get. The afternoon of the 11th is also solid with a 2ft, 12-second swell and 151 energy, though the wind is a bit stronger.

After that, Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th of September have some surfable waves, but the wind goes onshore on the Sunday, blowing it out. The morning of Monday the 14th of September is another clean, promising-looking session with a 2ft, 13-second swell from the W, energy of 158, and a light offshore breeze.

So, here’s the bottom line: if you’re desperate for a dip, the morning of Wednesday the 2nd of September is your first chance. But the real one to pencil in is Thursday the 11th of September. That’s the day with the most energy and the cleanest conditions for a proper surf. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it, but it’s the best on offer.

Rusty.

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