Chicama - El Cape / Keys Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking in on the stretch we call El Cape.

Gotta be straight with you - the first week and a half of this outlook is a total write-off. We’ve got day after day of poor surf conditions, all the way from Tuesday the 25th of August right through to Wednesday the 2nd of September. The wind is locked in from the south, and it’s blowing straight onshore, just ruining any chance of a clean wave. The swell is tiny, around 1 ft to 2 ft for days, and even when it starts to push a bit, the onshores just kill it. It’s a frustrating stretch of flat, messy ocean.

Finally, on Thursday the 3rd of September, we get a little flicker of life. The morning shows some improvement, with a 3 ft swell from the WSW and a long period of 18 seconds, and the combined energy is a solid 697 (moderate). The break is Chickama - El Cape / Keys, a point break that’s fairly consistent and never crowded. The water temperature is a warm 69°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so the water will feel like a bath. The wind is still onshore though, so the surf will be a bit lumpy.

The real standout - the one you want to keep an eye on - is Friday the 4th of September. The morning session looks like the best of the whole 16 days. We’re seeing a clean 6 ft swell from the SW, with a 15-second period. The combined energy is pumping at 1464 (moderate). The wind finally swings around to a light cross-on from the SW, just a light breeze that will keep the surface fairly smooth, only small wind ripples. It’s still a crowd-free break, but with these conditions, I wouldn’t be surprised if a few more heads show up. This is a solid option for intermediate to advanced surfers; 6 ft is a proper size. The afternoon sees the wind pick back up to a moderate breeze onshore, ruining the shape, so get out early.

After Friday, the swell drops back down to 5 ft for the weekend, with the onshores returning, so surf quality goes back to poor. There’s a glimmer a week later, on Wednesday the 9th of September, with a 5 ft SW swell and a 15-second period, but again, the south wind is onshore, and the combined energy is 1131 (moderate). It’s a shame, because the swell direction is perfect for the point, but the wind just won’t cooperate.

Honestly, this run of weather has been cruel. Friday the 4th is the only real shot at something decent, and even then, it’s a window that closes fast. Stay patient.

- Rusty

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