El Capitan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for El Capitan over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a slow start. The first few days only have small, weak swell rolling in, and the wind is mostly cross-on or just cross. The water temperature is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick wetsuit.

The first real chance of something decent comes on Thursday 16th July. The afternoon session is where it’s at. We’ve got a 6ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind turns cross-off. That’s clean. The combined energy is a solid 668 (moderate), so there’s enough push for a fun wave. This is a reef and point setup, so it’s for the advanced crew. It’s inconsistent at El Capitan, so don’t expect a wave every minute, but when it comes, it’ll be worth it. The water is a bit warmer than normal, so you’re in for a nice session.

Wednesday 23rd July is another standout. The morning is a bit choppy with a cross-on breeze, but the afternoon... that’s glassy. The wind drops to glass, and we’ve got a 4ft swell from the S, with a 14-second period. That’s a long-period groundswell, which means better shaped waves and more energy. The combined energy is 816 (moderate), and with those clean conditions, it’s going to be a special afternoon. The break is inconsistent, so you’ll need to be patient, but the quality will be there.

Sunday 26th July also looks promising. The morning sees a 5ft swell from the NW with a 10-second period, and light cross-wind. The afternoon cleans up with a cross-off breeze and a 4ft swell from the WNW. The combined energy hits 1080 in the morning (strong), so there’s plenty of power. It’s a reef and point, so that long-period swell should wrap in nicely.

There’s a bit of a lull in the middle of the second week, with smaller swells and cross-on winds, but the end of the run on Monday 27th July afternoon offers a clean, 2ft swell from the SW with a very long 18-second period. Light cross-off winds make it glassy, but it’s small.

Overall, the best on offer is Thursday 16th July afternoon and Wednesday 23rd July afternoon. The glassy conditions on the 23rd are a real treat, and the 16th has the size. El Capitan is for the advanced surfer, and it’s inconsistent, so patience is key. The crowds are often there, so keep that in mind.

Rusty.

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