El Palito Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the surf ahead.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – it’s looking like a real dry spell for the next sixteen days. There’s just no solid surf to get excited about. The conditions are pretty much locked into a pattern of tiny, weak pulses and poor-quality wind. We’ve got a lot of days with either no swell at all or waves so small they barely register. From the end of August, right through the first week of September, there’s a long gap with zero rideable surf. It’s not until the morning of the 10th of September that we see a faint flicker of life again, but even that’s a struggle.

For the break itself, we’re looking at El Palito (El Palito). It’s a beach and breakwater setup, fairly exposed to the swell, and the optimal direction is from the NNE. The water is sitting at a warm 83°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Let’s be honest, the best of a bad bunch is probably the morning of the 31st of August. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the NE with a short period of 6 seconds, so it’s pretty weak with only 20 of combined energy. But the wind is glassy – dead calm – so the surface will be clean as a whistle. If you’re a beginner with a foamie and just want to sit on the board in warm, flat water, it’s your best shot. Everyone else will be waiting in vain.

Other than that, there are a few other mornings – like the 4th, 5th, and 10th of September – where we see similar 2ft to 3ft lumps of short-period, weak swell. But the wind is cross-on or cross-onshore, making it choppy and sloppy. It’s the kind of surf that looks more fun for kite surfing than paddling. Honestly, don’t waste the petrol.

This blank run is pretty normal for the area when the conditions get this stagnant, so don’t sweat it. Forecasts can change, but for now, keep the board in the car and the wetsuit dry.

Rusty.

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