El Comedor Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for our local stretch.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough one. We're looking at a solid 16-day window, but the swell and wind just aren't playing nice for a proper paddle session. The conditions are pretty much locked in with a persistent onshore or cross-onshore wind from the north-northeast, and that's kept the waves messy and junky. There's a heap of energy in the water, but it's all wind-slop, not the clean groundswell we want.

Our only spot on the radar is El Comedor, a consistent expert reef break. The water temp is sitting at 73°F, which is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there. The problem is, the swell is predominantly from the north-northeast, which is well off its optimum direction from the north-northwest. The period is short – mostly 7 to 8 seconds – so it's all wind-swell, lacking the punch and shape of a proper groundswell.

From the 19th of July right through to the end of the month, we've got a long stretch of poor conditions. The wind is a constant 12 to 16 mph from the N or NNE, and it's either onshore or cross-onshore, smashing the surface. The combined energy starts at 262 and builds all the way up to 1700 by the 27th, so there's power, but it's messy power. The swell height climbs from 6 ft to over 8 ft, but with that short period and bad wind, it's just a washing machine. For a break like this, that's not surfable; it's a washing machine. For a setup like this with that much wind and swell, honestly, this looks more interesting for the kite surfers than for us paddle guys.

The situation improves slightly in the first week of August. The swell drops off a bit, down to 4 ft on the 1st, and the period stretches to 9 seconds – a little better. But the wind swings to the NNW, which is cross-on at El Comedor, and the combined energy is still moderate at 248. The onshore wind returns on the 2nd and 3rd, with the swell period dropping back to 6-7 seconds. It's still a no-go.

Throughout this whole forecast, every single entry is marked as "poor surf conditions." There are no standouts, no hidden gems. The only time we get a score of 1 out of 10 is on the 27th of July, and even that's described as "marginal surf forecast."

So, the honest truth is this: there's nothing on offer here for the next two weeks. We're looking at a blank run. For this area, that's a normal pattern when the wind sets in from the wrong quarter. It's a bummer, but it won't stay poor forever. Keep an eye on the charts, because things can change. For now, I'd say give the board a rest, maybe take the dog for a walk.

Rusty.

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