El Brusco Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee, let’s have a look at what we’ve got for El Brusco. It’s a quiet outlook, to be honest. We have only one break flagged here: El Brusco – an advanced-level wave that’s fairly consistent but needs the right conditions.

The water temperature is sitting at 72°F, which is a whopping 6°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual – you’re practically in a bath.

The pattern for the next week and a half is pretty grim. From Monday, July 6 right through to Thursday, July 16, we’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak surf with poor conditions. Swell heights barely scrape 2ft, the period is short and choppy, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore. The combined wave energy is pathetic, often under 100 (for example, 53 on Monday morning, 33 on Tuesday). There’s a brief moment on Sunday, July 12, with light rain and a cross-shore breeze, but the swell is only 2ft – nothing to get excited about. Honestly, for paddle surfing, it’s a write-off. A beach or beach-and-reef setup like this in such light, messy conditions might be more fun for a kite surfer, but that’s about it.

There’s a gap in *good* surf for nearly two weeks. Then things get interesting, but not necessarily good.

The standout – and I’m using that term loosely – comes late on Sunday, July 19. Around Sunday afternoon, a pulse of swell arrives: 7ft from the NNW, with an 8-second period. The combined energy jumps to a strong 531. That’s some serious power for a spot that normally sees 2ft. However, the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, so it’s going to be choppy. This swell is over 8ft? No, it’s 7ft – still big enough that it’s for experts only. Beginners stay well clear. The direction (NNW) is slightly off the optimum NW, but it’s close enough to wrap in. Monday, July 20 morning still has 5ft from the NNW with another strong energy reading of 257, but the wind stays cross-onshore.

For the entire 16-day run, if you *have* to paddle out, aim for Sunday, July 19 afternoon or Monday, July 20 morning. It’s the only window with any real size and energy. That said, it’s messy, and the swell has a shorter period (7-8 seconds), so don’t expect long, peeling lines. This is a raw, powerful, onshore-shoved wave. It’s promising but not a classic.

That’s the long and short of it. A long flat spell, then one punchy but rough window. Keep an eye on the forecast, because things can change.

Rusty.

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