El Claron Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s see what we’ve got cookin’ for El Claron over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: this is a tough stretch. The conditions are pretty much locked into a cross-onshore wind pattern for the bulk of the forecast, and that’s a real shame because the swell sticks around. The water is sitting at 59°F and feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a nice little bonus if you’re getting in, but the chop is gonna work against you.

We kick things off on Thursday the 3rd. The swell is there – 3ft from the SW with a long 16-second period – but it’s a write-off. The wind is a moderate cross-onshore breeze at 12 mph, making it choppy and messy. The combined wave energy is moderate (813), but it’s just not surfable. Friday the 4th is no better, with the wind picking up to 16 mph in the afternoon pushing a 8ft swell on a short 8-second period. That’s a lot of close-out, low-quality junk.

Saturday the 5th is a bit of a tease. We get a strong surge of energy – 1432 on the combined scale – with a 7ft swell from the SW. The wind drops to a gentle 9 mph, but it’s still cross-onshore, so it’s a bumpy, marginal affair. Not worth paddling out for.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t come until Sunday the 6th morning. The wind drops to a light 6 mph cross-onshore, and it’s a solid 5ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period. It’s still a bit onshore, but it’s the cleanest we’ve seen. The combined energy is strong (1345). This is the best on offer in the first week. Even then, it’s only a marginal call, so don’t expect perfection.

The middle of the week from Monday the 7th to Wednesday the 9th is a real grind. The swell stays up, but the wind keeps it choppy. The scores are low across the board.

Now, if you’ve got patience, the second week has a couple of standout windows, but they’re further out so keep your expectations in check. Saturday the 12th morning is the one to circle. The wind finally turns offshore from the WSW at just 6 mph. That’s a game-changer for a point break like this. The swell is a solid 8ft from the SW with an 11-second period, and the combined energy is strong (1329). This is the pick of the entire forecast. Keep in mind, 8ft is a sizeable wave – this is for the experienced crew, not beginners. The offshore wind should clean it right up for a proper session.

Sunday the 13th has a similar swell size, but the wind swings back cross-onshore, so that window is gone.

After that, the swell starts to fade and the wind stays messy. We get a brief pulse of long-period groundswell on Monday the 14th (3ft, 16 seconds), but it’s too small and the wind is up. The final week from the 15th onward is a bit of a washout with weak, short-period energy and constant cross-onshore winds.

Overall, it’s a frustrating forecast. There’s a lot of swell, but the wind is the enemy. The only real standout is Saturday the 12th morning. If you can hold out for that offshore window, you might score a gem. Otherwise, it’s a lot of waiting for not much.

- Rusty

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