El Barco Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – the outlook for El Barco over the next 16 days is a bit of a struggle. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with no decent surf on offer, so don’t get your hopes up for anything epic. The first recommendation doesn’t pop up until the 15th of July, and even then, it’s pretty grim.

From Wednesday the 15th right through to the end of the month, the waves are just not cooperating. The swell is tiny, mostly around 1 ft to 2 ft to start, with weak energy and short periods around 8 seconds. Winds are offshore from the NNE, which is great for clean conditions, but there’s just no power in the water. It’s the kind of session where you’d be bobbing around more than surfing. The water temp is cool at 51°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

Things don’t improve much as we go. The 16th and 17th stay small, with onshore winds picking up and even a risk of thunderstorms on Friday the 17th. The swell energy stays weak, and the waves are poor. You’d be better off staying home.

There’s a slight bump in energy around the 20th and 21st of July, with swell heights creeping up to 4 ft to 5 ft, and combined energy hitting the 200s. But the period is still short (5-8 seconds), and the winds are fresh cross-onshore, making it lumpy and choppy. Not a good look for a clean ride.

The 22nd of July is a bit of a tease – we get some clearer skies and a light cross-shore breeze, with swell around 4 ft from the SE and a period of 9 seconds, but the energy is moderate. It’s still marginal, and the comments say “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” It’s not a total write-off, but it’s not something I’d paddle out for with excitement.

The 25th and 26th of July see a longer period swell (10-12 seconds) from the S, with heights around 4 ft to 5 ft, and combined energy pushing into the 300s on the 25th. Winds are onshore or cross-off, but the conditions are still poor or marginal. The 26th has a clean cross-off wind from the NE, which is a positive, but the swell is still inconsistent.

The final days, from the 27th to the 30th, offer a mix of moderate offshore winds and some cross-onshore breezes, but the swell stays small and weak. The 27th has a 13-second period from the S, but the energy is moderate, and the cross-on wind makes it choppy. The 30th is a total dud with strong onshore winds and rain.

So, the long and short of it: there’s no standout session here. The best you could hope for is the 22nd of July or the 26th of July, where the conditions are clean and the swell is at least rideable, but it’s nothing to write home about. If you’re desperate for a paddle, keep an eye on the 26th, but don’t expect magic. With the consistency being fairly consistent here, it’s a bit of a bummer that the forecasts are so poor – but that’s the hand we’ve been dealt this time. Forecasts can change, so stay tuned.

Rusty.

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