El Faro Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for the next couple of weeks at El Faro.

We've got a bit of a slow start, but the back half of the period is where the real magic is hiding. The water is sitting at about 88°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a warm bath out there.

The first few days are a bit of a tease. The real standout, the one you gotta circle on your calendar, is Saturday the 28th and Sunday the 29th. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We'll walk through it.

We kick off on Saturday the 15th of August, but it’s not much to write home about. The afternoon has a 5 ft SW swell, but with a 12 mph cross-on wind, it's choppy and messy. The combined energy is moderate at 1185, but the quality just ain't there. We wait.

Sunday the 16th is a different story. The morning glass off is a beauty. The wind is a whisper from the NNE at 3 mph, turning the surface to glass. We've got a solid 4 ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 735. This is clean, fun surf. But the afternoon turns onshore again.

Monday the 17th morning repeats the magic – glassy conditions, 4 ft SW swell, period at 14 seconds, and a combined energy of 669. It’s a clean morning session. The afternoons, though, are getting blown out by a 9 mph cross-on wind.

Tuesday the 18th morning is where it gets good. 4 ft of SSW swell, but the wind goes offshore from the North at 3 mph. Combined energy is moderate at 646, and the conditions are clean. This is a proper window.

Wednesday the 19th morning is similar – 4 ft SW, clean with a cross-off breeze. Thursday the 20th morning drops to 3 ft, but it's offshore and clean, making the most of a small day.

Now we hit a bit of a lull in size, but the consistency holds. Friday the 21st through Tuesday the 26th sees a mix of small swell and tricky winds. The mornings are generally the go, with clean conditions, but the swell hovers around 2 ft to 4 ft. The period drops to around 9 seconds on the 21st and 22nd, which is short-period windswell, so the shape won’t be as good.

Then, we get to the highlight. El Faro is a river mouth setup, so it loves a good long-period SW groundswell. The end of the month is firing. Friday the 28th morning starts with a 4 ft SSW swell and glassy conditions. But hold on to your board – Friday afternoon is a beauty. The swell jumps to 5 ft from the SSW, with an 18-second period. The wind is glassy at 3 mph. The combined energy is strong at 1242. This is excellent surf, but at 5 ft, it's still friendly for an intermediate. It’s a standout session.

Saturday the 29th morning keeps the run going. 5 ft SW swell, 16-second period, clean with a cross-off breeze. Combined energy is strong at 1104. Again, excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets a bit onshore and tricky.

Sunday the 30th morning offers a final glassy session with a 4 ft SSW swell and 15-second period before the afternoon winds pick up again.

So, the best on offer? No question, Friday the 28th afternoon and Saturday the 29th morning are the standouts. You get that long-period SW groundswell, glassy and clean winds, and strong wave energy. The swell is solid but not out of control. Expect a few more heads in the water with conditions that good, but it will be worth it.

-Rusty

Read more