El Palito Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got coming down the line at El Palito. It’s a bit of a waiting game this time, so don’t get your hopes up too early.

The first bit of action we’ll see is on Thursday morning, July 9th. We’ve got a small NE swell pushing in at about 4ft, with a period of 7 seconds. That’s a short period windswell, so the energy is there but it’s not going to have that grunty push you’d want for a proper session. The combined swell energy is moderate at best (130). The real winner here is the wind – glassy conditions with barely 3 mph from the ENE. For a beach and breakwater set-up, that’ll keep things clean. Water temp is sitting around 82°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. It’s a beginner-friendly wave at 4ft, but don’t expect a standout session. The crowds are sometimes a thing here, so you might have some company.

Don't get too excited about the rest of the first week, though, because from Thursday afternoon right through to Monday July 13th, it’s pretty much a write-off. Cross-onshore winds, thunderstorms, and generally poor surf conditions dominate the afternoons, and the mornings are mostly flat or blown out. We’ve got a few records showing “poor surf conditions” with zero energy and choppy seas. Monday morning, July 13th, does show a small 3ft NE swell (86 energy), but the wind is onshore and it's listed as poor surf. Honestly, not worth paddling out.

After that, there’s a real dry spell. From Tuesday July 14th all the way through to Saturday July 19th, there’s nothing but zeros, cross-onshore winds, and risk of thunderstorms. A long gap where you can keep the board in the car.

Now, there’s a tiny glimmer on Sunday morning, July 19th. The swell drops to 3ft from the NE, still a short 6-second period, and the combined energy is weak (56). But here’s the kicker: the wind goes glassy again with 3 mph from the NE. That’ll put a little face on those waves. It’s still only really surfable in a very ordinary kind of way, and it won’t be anything big. Still, if you’re desperate for a splash, that’s your best bet in weeks. For the beginners, that 3ft is super manageable and safe.

Then it’s back to the doldrums. Monday July 20th and Tuesday July 21st are mostly poor surf, with Tuesday afternoon showing a tiny 2ft swell (23 energy) that’s not worth mentioning. Wednesday July 22nd morning looks glassy again with no swell at all. The last real mention is Thursday July 23rd morning with a 3ft NE swell (67 energy), but with onshore winds, it’s just not happening.

To be honest, the standout on offer is that Thursday July 9th morning session – the only time we get a bit of height with truly clean, glassy conditions. For a beach and breakwater spot, that’s a rare treat. The rest of the 16-day window is mostly flat, choppy, or blown out. If you’re a kite surfer, the afternoons with cross-onshore winds and bumpy conditions might look more interesting than for us paddle surfers.

Keep an eye on the forecast – it tends not to stay this poor for long.

Rusty.

Read more