El Corniche Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I'm looking at the El Corniche forecast. Honestly, for the next couple of weeks, this stretch of coast is in a real funk.

We start with a major gap. There’s simply nothing worth paddling out for from Sunday, August 9th, through most of Saturday, August 15th. The energy in the water is weak, barely registering above 30 or 40 in the combined swell energy for most of that time, with tiny 2 to 3 ft windswell and short period around 6 to 7 seconds. The winds are all wrong too—mostly onshore or cross-onshore from the NW and WNW, ruining any chance of a clean face. You’d be wasting your time.

Tuesday morning, August 11th, actually looks glassy with a 3 ft NW swell and a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is just 62, which is low, and it’s described as “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” You could get wet, but there’s not enough push to get excited about. The water temperature is a notable 84°F, a very unusual 4°F warmer than average for this time of year (much warmer than normal).

We do see a slight pulse starting on Sunday, August 16th, with the swell height nudging up to 4 ft from the NNW, and combined energy climbing into the low-to-mid 100s. That’s moderate energy. But the wind remains onshore from the NNW at 9 to 12 mph, so it’s going to be messy. Not the day.

The strongest period in the whole run is around Wednesday, August 19th, morning. The swell hits 4 ft from the NNW (period still short at 7 seconds), and the combined energy hits a peak of 153, showing moderate energy. But again, the wind is a light cross-onshore from the WNW, leaving it marginal. The forecast says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” It’s the best on offer, but that’s not saying much.

Honestly, the best shot for anything remotely clean is probably Thursday morning, August 20th, or Friday morning, August 21st. Both mornings are glassy with a small 2 to 3 ft NNW swell. The period is short (6 seconds) and the energy is low (33 to 54), so it’ll be small and weak, but at least it will be clean. Don’t expect much more than a fun little waist-high closeout.

El Corniche is a spot that “rarely breaks,” and this run shows exactly why. Without a proper groundswell and with the wind pattern that’s locked in, there’s just no standout quality. If I were you, I’d leave the board at home for a week and a half, and only check Thursday the 20th or Friday the 21st at dawn for a glassy little session. By the 24th, the swell just fades away to nothing.

This is a rough stretch.

- Rusty

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