El Brusco Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for El Brusco. It’s an advanced wave, and it needs quite a specific NW swell to really line up. The water temperature is sitting at 73°, which is about 6° warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s very unusual, you’d be fine in a shorty or even just boardshorts if you’re tough enough.

To be brutally honest, the first two weeks of this outlook are a bit of a write-off. From July 8th right through to the morning of July 23rd, we’ve got a long, flat spell of tiny, weak surf. The combined swell energy barely gets above 100 (97 is the highest we see in that stretch), and most days it’s sitting down in the teens or twenties. The wind is often cross-onshore or choppy, and the wave comment keeps saying “poor surf conditions.” It’s a frustrating stretch with nothing worth paddling out for.

Now, things finally start to look a bit more interesting on the morning of Thursday, July 23rd. The swell bumps up to 7ft from the NW with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 563, which is moderate, so there’s finally some power in the water. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the west at 9 mph, which will keep the surface lumpy but rideable. The thing is, at 7ft offshore, this is going to pack a punch at an advanced break like El Brusco – it’s really only for experienced surfers. The afternoon sees a similar 7ft NW swell but with an onshore wind, so the morning is the clear window. The crowd profile says “often” here, so expect company if the swell shows.

That Thursday morning is the one true standout across the whole 16 days. It’s the only real swell event, so if you’ve been waiting, that’s your moment. Everything before it is a long, flat gap, but the forecast can always change.

Rusty.

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