El Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

Right now, the surf is just about getting going. We’re in for a run of small, clean waves to start, but the real juice shows up later. The water is sitting at 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the thick rubber at home.

We kick things off on Wednesday, the 5th of August, at El Estero. Wednesday morning sees some clouds and a light NNE breeze, cross-off at 6 mph. The swell is a tiny 2 ft from the SW with a 12-second period. The combined energy is moderate (123). It’s clean but very ordinary. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-on wind change and a risk of thunderstorms, so the morning is the pick.

Thursday the 6th is a better bet. Morning has a light SE cross-off at 6 mph, with a 2 ft SW swell, 14-second period, and clean conditions. The energy is 129. Then Thursday afternoon goes glassy – zero wind, a 2 ft SW swell, 11-second period, and a glassy surface. Surfable.

Friday the 7th of August sees a bit more energy. Morning has a 2 ft SSW swell, 18-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell, which will be better at this river mouth than a beach break. Wind is ENE at 12 mph, cross-off, and the energy jumps to 388. Clean but the score is marginal. The afternoon gets cross-on and choppy.

Now, Saturday the 8th of August is where things start to turn on. Morning is clear with an ENE breeze at 9 mph, cross-off. The swell bumps up to 3 ft from the SSW, 16-second period, and the energy is 610 – solid moderate. Clean waves. The afternoon is even better: cloudy, light ESE wind at 6 mph going offshore, with a 4 ft SW swell, 15-second period, and energy of 516. Very clean. This is the first standout window.

Sunday the 9th has a bit more size but the wind gets stiffer in the morning. By Sunday afternoon, the wind drops to a slight air from the SSE, cross-off, with a 3 ft SW swell, 14-second period, and energy of 396. Good surf.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th offer more of the same, but Tuesday afternoon is a gem. The 11th of August, Tuesday afternoon, has some clouds, a light southerly breeze at 3 mph going glassy. The swell is 3 ft from the SW, 18-second period, and the energy jumps to 723 – strong. That’s a very clean, long-period groundswell and glassy conditions. This is a highlight.

Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th are a bit of a mixed bag with afternoon cross-onshore winds. The mornings remain clean and small.

Then we get into the real meat. Friday the 14th of August afternoon is a standout. Some clouds, a light ESE wind at 9 mph going offshore, and the swell hits 4 ft from the SW, 18-second period. The energy is massive at 1404 – that’s strong wave energy. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The long period will make this a proper groundswell, and at El Estero, that means lined-up waves. This is one of the best on offer.

Saturday the 15th of August continues the trend. Morning is 5 ft from the SW, 16-second period, with a cross-off ENE breeze at 16 mph. The energy is 1214. It’s clean but windy. The afternoon is better: a light ESE offshore breeze at 6 mph, with a 5 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and energy of 1096. Excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is another top pick.

Sunday the 16th of August drops a little, with a 4 ft SW swell, 15-second period, but the morning is clean and cross-off. The afternoon gets a light cross-on wind.

Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th see the swell easing back to 4 ft and 4 ft, but with very clean conditions. Monday afternoon is glassy. Tuesday morning has a moderate offshore breeze.

The final week, from the 19th to the 20th, the swell fades to 3 ft and then 2 ft, with clean mornings and onshore afternoons. Still surfable in the mornings.

For the best of the best, I’m calling out Tuesday afternoon, 11th August for that glassy, long-period groundswell at 3 ft, and Friday afternoon, 14th August for the bigger, offshore 4 ft groundswell with huge energy. Both are at El Estero. Crowds are “often” here, so there will be company, but the quality makes it worth it.

Rusty.

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