El Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for our local stretch.

Alright, folks, it's a bit of a slow burner for the next couple of weeks. We've got a consistent pulse of SW swell running through the whole period, but the wind and the quality are going to be the real story. The water is sittin' at a warm 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the steamer at home.

The main break is El Estero, a river mouth that's exposed to the swell. The action kicks off on Thursday, August 6th, but it's a shaky start. You've got a risk of thunderstorms and a cross-offshore wind making things a bit messy with 2ft of SW swell. The combined energy is weak (125), so it's not really worth paddling for. That afternoon turns to a poor cross-on breeze, so it's a write-off.

Friday, August 7th is where the tide starts to turn. A solid ENE offshore wind kicks in by the morning, blowing cleanly at 12 mph. The swell is still small at 2ft from the SSW, but the energy jumps up to moderate (414). That's a clean, fun little wave for the early birds. The afternoon gets a bit crossed up, so make the most of the morning.

Saturday, August 8th is the first real standout. The morning has a clean 3ft SSW swell with a moderate offshore breeze and a solid energy reading of 580. The afternoon is even better, with the swell lifting to 4ft from the SW and a clean, light cross-offshore wind. The energy is still strong (517), and the conditions are clean. This is your best bet for the first week.

Sunday, August 9th offers a full day of offshore winds with a solid 3ft SW swell, so the morning session will be a treat. The energy is moderate (431). The theme continues through Monday, August 10th, with a notable glassy afternoon session on offer. The 3ft SW swell, combined with glassy conditions, means the surface will be like a mirror - a real treat for the soul.

Tuesday, August 11th is a split day. The morning is a beauty with a light offshore wind and a 3ft SW swell (375 energy). The afternoon, however, gets ruined by a strong cross-on breeze, so get out early.

The swell picks up in size heading into the second week. Friday, August 14th brings a solid 5ft SW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds. The energy is strong (1342). This is groundswell, and it's going to be a beauty for the experienced surfers. The wind is light and cross-off, making for excellent conditions. The only caveat is that with such a long period, it might break a bit straight at the beach, but the river mouth can handle it. The afternoon is looking clean and excellent.

Saturday, August 15th keeps the energy high with a 5ft SW swell, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-offshore in the morning, which will make it choppy. The afternoon eases with a lighter breeze and a 5ft swell, offering excellent conditions for the experienced crew. The size is pushing into the "experts only" zone.

The rest of the window, from Sunday, August 16th to Thursday, August 21st, holds a consistent 3ft to 4ft SW swell. The wind is a mixed bag of offshores and cross-offshores, with a few glassy windows thrown in (like the afternoon of the 16th and the 19th). The best bet for the late period is Monday, August 17th afternoon, with a clean 4ft SW swell and a light offshore wind. The energy is moderate (511) and the conditions are clean.

So, to wrap it up: the standout window is Saturday, August 8th for the smaller, cleaner fun, and Friday, August 14th for the bigger, more powerful groundswell. If you're an experienced surfer, the 14th is your day. If you want a more relaxed, clean wave, the 8th is the one.

Stay frosty, and I'll see you out there.

Rusty

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