El Camotal Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next 16 days at El Camotal are a tough watch for surfers. The forecast is a real mixed bag of conditions that just don’t want to line up. The main issue is a persistent cross-onshore wind that’s gonna keep things bumpy and chopped up, so don’t expect many clean, glassy waves. The water is sitting at 69°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the wetsuit at home.

The best of a pretty average bunch comes on Thursday, the 3rd of September. The morning session sees a 4ft swell from the SW with a solid 18-second period (groundswell) and the combined energy reading is a moderate 1034. It’s the pick of the period, but don’t get too excited. The wind is light cross-onshore, which is about as good as it’s going to get around here. This break is a consistent spot, but with these conditions, it’s really a beginner-friendly option – the swell size is manageable and it’s not overly dangerous. The crowd factor is marked as sometimes, so you won’t have it to yourself.

Friday the 4th of September keeps the SW swell pumping, with the morning showing a 6ft swell at 16 seconds (groundswell). The combined energy jumps right up to a strong 1532 (moderate to strong energy), so there’s some grunt in the water. But again, the wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not going to be glassy. The swell is getting a bit sizeable – over 5ft – so it might be pushing it for beginners now.

From Saturday the 5th of September, things start to drop off a little. The morning still has a 5ft swell from the SW, but it’s dropping in period to 14 seconds, and the combined energy is 974. Not terrible, but still not firing on all cylinders with that persistent cross-onshore airflow.

After that quick peek of energy, it’s a long, slow grind. From the 6th of September right through to the 16th of September, the swell gets smaller and smaller, and the wind stays stuck in that cross-onshore direction. You’ll see periods of 2ft to 4ft with combined energy readings that dip into the hundreds and even below 100 at times. Spot checks like Wednesday the 16th of September show a 4ft swell coming back, but with a combined energy of 838 and a score of 0, it’s another day of poor surf conditions. It’s just a constant battle with chop and wind.

So, if you have to get wet, you’re best off looking at the Thursday 3rd of September morning session. It’s the closest thing to a highlight in a forecast that is sadly lacking a proper standout. For the rest of the run, until the 16th of September, expect marginal, choppy conditions and small, weak waves. There are about 11 days in a row there where it’s just not worth paddling out. Keep an eye on it, though – forecasts change, but this one looks like a flat, onshore stretch.

Rusty.

Read more