El Canal Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next stretch.

Honestly, it’s a tough run. For the entire 16-day window, the surf is pretty much a write-off. The conditions are consistently poor, with a constant cross-shore wind messing things up. There’s no standout period, no magic day to get excited about. The first surfable recommendation doesn’t appear until the 27th of July, and even then, it’s a struggle.

We’re looking at El Canal, an advanced reef break. It’s fairly consistent, but with the wind blowing cross-shore from the East at 12 to 18 mph, the surface is going to be a lumpy, cross-chop mess. The swell is coming from the East, which is the optimum direction for the spot, but the period is short, around 7 to 8 seconds, so it lacks any real power. The water temperature is sitting at 83°, which is bang on average for this time of year.

The first couple of days are a no-go. On the 27th, we’ve got 4ft of weak, short-period swell, but the wind is just ruining it. The combined energy is a weak 172. It’s the same story right through the 28th and 29th. The swell drops right off on the 29th afternoon to a tiny 0.3ft, with a combined energy of barely 5. It’s not worth paddling out.

The 30th of July sees a bump in size, with 5ft in the morning and 7ft in the afternoon, but the period drops to 7 seconds. The energy picks up to 413 in the afternoon, which is moderate, but the wind is still a fresh cross-shore, making it lumpy. This is going to be a messy, bumpy session for experts only.

The pattern continues day after day. The swell hangs around in the 3ft to 5ft range, but the wind never lets up. It’s a constant cross-shore breeze from the East, and the period stays short. The combined energy occasionally hits the 300s, like on the 1st of August afternoon (331) and the 11th of August morning (312), but the quality is just not there. The wind is always there to chop it up.

The second week looks the same. The 7th of August sees a 5ft afternoon swell, but the period drops to a pathetic 5 seconds, and the wind is a fresh 18 mph cross-shore. The 10th and 11th of August have some 5ft swells with periods of 7 to 8 seconds, and the energy is moderate, but the wind is still cross-shore. It’s just not going to be any good.

There are no standouts here. If you’re desperate for a paddle, you might find a few shoulders on the 30th of July afternoon or the 1st of August afternoon, but it’s going to be a battle with the wind. The set-up, with the constant cross-shore wind and the short-period, choppy waves, honestly looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer at this point. A tough run for the region.

Rusty.

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