El Corniche Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Honestly, for the next little while, we’re looking at a pretty flat and uninviting stretch of water. The surf just isn’t there, and when it does show up, the wind’s going to be all over it. We’ve got a long run of small, weak, and choppy conditions ahead, so if you’re itching for a wave, you might want to find another hobby for a few days.

The first real look at anything comes on Thursday the 17th. El Corniche is the only spot in the picture, and even then, it’s pretty marginal. The swell’s coming from the NNW at about 3ft, but it’s a short-period 6 second groundswell, so it won’t have much punch. The combined energy is a weak 47, and while the morning looks clean with a light cross-off breeze, the scores are low. A couple of waves might be there, but it’s nothing to get excited about.

Then it just falls away again. Friday and Saturday see the swell drop right off, and with the wind swinging around onshore and getting fresh, it’ll be messy and chopped up. The waves stay tiny and the energy just dies. This leads into a gap where there’s basically nothing worth paddling out for.

We’ll have to wait until the end of next week for the ocean to wake up a bit. The first real sign of life is on Wednesday the 23rd. A new swell builds in through the afternoon, with the combined energy jumping from a weak 16 to a much stronger 366. The swell height comes up to 4ft from the WNW, with a period of 11 seconds, which is a bit more like it. But here's the catch: the wind is straight onshore and the call is still for poor conditions. It’s going to be lumpy and messy.

That swell hangs around through Thursday the 24th, with a similar height of 4ft and a period of 10 seconds. The energy is still solid, 292, but again, the cross-onshore wind is going to be a problem. Expect a choppy, bumpy surface.

The last day in the forecast, Friday the 25th, has a slight improvement. The swell is still around 4ft with a 9-second period, but the wind comes around to a cross-on from the north at a gentler 9 mph. It’s still not clean, but it might be the lesser of the evils if you’re desperate. The rating is poor, but there’s a slightly more positive note in the guidance.

So, there’s no real standout here. The only days with any chance of catching something rideable are those last few around the 23rd and 24th, but the onshore wind will make it a battle. The water’s probably about average for this time of year, nothing special there. Don’t expect any crowds, mainly because no one in their right mind will be out there.

This is a stretch where you might have to wait it out, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Forecasts can change, and the ocean always has another trick up its sleeve.

Rusty

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