El Cardon Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a chat about what's on offer at El Cardon.

Look, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it – we’re in a bit of a lull. The next 16 days are a real mixed bag, and honestly, the surf quality is pretty poor for the most part. The main issue is that wind is coming from the wrong direction almost all the time, messing up what little swell we have. The good news is there’s something on the horizon, but you’ll need to be patient. The whole stretch from Friday the 11th of September is basically a write-off for any decent waves.

The only spot it happens to be worth chatting about is El Cardon. This is a point break that's generally consistent and exposed to W swell, which is what we need. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Alright, fast forward to the end of the run. Around Monday the 21st of September, things start to look a bit more interesting. We’re seeing a groundswell building from the SW, with the combined energy hitting a moderate 541 (moderate wave energy). The swell height is still small, around 3 ft, but the period stretches to 17 seconds. That long period means more energy and better-shaped waves, though it will be a bit fat at a beach break. At a point like El Cardon, it should wrap in nicely. The big issue is the wind is still cross-onshore from the WNW, which will keep the surface a bit bumpy. It’s marginal, but it's the only sniff of something rideable in the whole forecast.

If you're looking for the standout, it has to be that Monday morning (21st September). It's still not perfect, and the combined energy is about the best we'll see, but don't expect magic. The rest of the run, especially after Tuesday the 22nd, drops back into the poor category with smaller swell and persistent cross-onshore winds.

So, in a nutshell: don't hold your breath for the next week and a half. The blank run is real, but forecasts can change. The only real chance for a paddle is that Monday 21st, and even then, keep expectations low. For most of the 16 days, if you have a kite, you might find more fun in the wind than a surfboard will give you.

Stay patient.

Rusty.

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