EL Chalet (Alcala) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for EL Chalet (Alcala). It’s a reef break, fairly exposed to the swell, and it likes a good NW direction. The water is sitting at 74° right now, which is about average for the time of year.

The early part of the outlook is a bit of a slow burn, to be honest. We’ve got small, weak surf on Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th. The swell is small and the period is short, so it’s not really doing much. The energy is barely there (102 on Tuesday, dropping to 20 on Wednesday). Thursday the 30th picks up a little with a short-period 5 ft swell, but the wind is cross-off, so it’s rideable but nothing to write home about. Friday the 31st is much the same with 4 ft to 5 ft and moderate energy (173 to 223), but the wind is light. Saturday the 1st of August has a glassy morning with a 4 ft NNE swell – that’s a nice clean window, but the waves are still small.

The real shift kicks off on Wednesday the 5th of August. The swell ticks up to 5 ft from the NNE, the period stretches to 7 seconds, and the wind goes light offshore. The energy jumps to 269, and the comment says “expect good surf conditions.” Now we’re talking. Thursday the 6th keeps that momentum going with 5 ft to 5 ft, a bit longer period at 8 seconds, and strong energy (316 to 324). That’s the standout window for the first week: clean, offshore, and solid.

Friday the 7th dips a little, but Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th are the big standouts. Saturday morning has 5 ft from the NNE with 8-second period and a massive 362 energy, and the afternoon hits 6 ft with 433 energy. Sunday is almost identical, with 6 ft and 408 to 436 energy. The wind is light cross-off, but the waves are clean and the power is there. This is the best of the whole run. The swell is still in the intermediate range, so it’s good for anyone who’s comfortable.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th still hold good surf with 5 ft to 5 ft and periods touching 9 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell feel, meaning the waves will have more shape and energy. The energy stays in the 300s, so it’s solid. Wednesday the 12th drops off fast with a 5 ft but short 6-second period, and the energy plummets to 201, then it’s gone by the afternoon.

So, if you’re picking a day, the real standout is Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th of August. That’s where the swell, the consistency, and the energy all line up. The water is average temp, the crowds are “sometimes” which means you might have a few out, but the reef setup will handle the long-period swell just fine. The optimum direction is NW, and the swell is coming from the NNE, which is a bit off the mark, but with that much energy and clean conditions, it’s still a damn good session.

Get on it, Rusty.

Read more