EL Chalet (Alcala) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is a bit of a struggle for EL Chalet (Alcala). This reef setup is fairly consistent, but right now the swell is tiny and the conditions are just ordinary. We’ve got some surf on Monday the 13th, but it’s only 4ft from the NNW with a moderate 176 wave energy reading – it’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about. The water is sitting at 73°, which is about normal for this time of year.

The real highlight is a long way off. That Wednesday the 23rd of July is the one to circle on the calendar. The morning brings a solid 7ft pulse from the NNE, with combined energy jumping to 427 – that’s a strong, punchy setup. The wind is cross-off from the N at 9 mph, keeping things clean. This swell is a bit short period at 7 seconds, so it’s more of a windswell feel, but for a reef break like this, it’ll still offer some fun, chunky walls. This is a standout, but it’s over a week away, so don’t get too attached yet – forecasts can shift.

The days leading up to that are pretty flat. Tuesday the 14th has a tiny 3ft swell and glassy conditions in the morning – that’s a rare treat of clean, calm water, but the wave energy is a weak 87. It’s a good day for a beginner to get out, but there’s just not enough power. From the 15th through the 22nd, we’re mostly stuck with poor surf conditions, with swell heights barely scraping 1ft and energy levels in the teens. There’s one odd spike on Sunday the 19th afternoon with 4ft from the NNE and 144 energy, but it’s still rated as poor.

Then after the 23rd, we get a nice run. Thursday the 24th afternoon has 5ft from the N with 276 energy, and the wind stays light from the N. Saturday the 25th is also solid – 7ft from the NNE in the afternoon, energy at 356, and light winds. This is expert territory at 7ft, so keep that in mind. Sunday the 26th holds up with 6ft from the NNE. After that, the swell drops back into the 5ft range with lower energy, so the window of quality is really the 23rd through the 26th.

So overall, the best bet is that Wednesday the 23rd of July morning session at EL Chalet. It’s the biggest, most energetic swell of the whole forecast, and the cross-off wind will keep it clean. Just be ready for some crowds – it’s a spot that can get busy, especially when it’s good.

Stay patient, and I’ll see you out there.

Rusty

Read more