El Palito Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty checkin’ in, and I gotta be straight with you – the outlook for the next couple weeks is pretty grim. It’s one of those stretches where the ocean just isn't cooperating. We’re lookin’ at a long dry spell for any decent surf.

Right now, starting on Friday the 28th of August, El Palito is the only spot on the radar, but it’s not worth paddlin’ out for. We’ve got a tiny 2ft NE swell, but with a short, weak period of 6 seconds and combined energy sittin’ real low at just (43), and a light north breeze blowin’ straight onshore. The water’s at a warm 83°, which is about normal for this time of year, but with conditions labeled "poor," there’s just no juice.

Saturday the 29th is more of the same – 2ft to 3ft of weak NE windswell, with that onshore wind turning cross-onshore in the afternoon. Sunday the 30th, same story: tiny swell, cross-onshore chop.

We get a tiny tease on Monday the 31st morning, with a glassy 1.0ft swell from NE, and the period jumps to a long 12 seconds, which is a groundswell signal. But it’s still only (43) energy, and 1.0ft is barely a ripple. That little window closes fast, with the afternoon turning messy again.

Then from Tuesday the 1st of September all the way through to Thursday the 10th of September, it’s pretty much dead. A big fat zero on the energy meter for most of those days. A couple of mornings show a tiny pulse – like the 3ft on Thursday the 3rd morning, but still with a poor period and onshore wind. The 2ft on Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are just more of the same weak, choppy mess. It’s a real bummer.

We finally see some ghostly signals again right at the end of the forecast. On Saturday the 12th of September, there’s a whisper of a 0.3ft swell, but the period jumps to a very long 14 seconds. For a beach and breakwater setup like El Palito, a long-period swell like that will probably just break too straight with no power. Combined energy is only (8), so don’t get your hopes up. Sunday the 13th is the same story – tiny, long period, no energy.

Look, it’s a rough run. For a spot like this, a blank run is pretty normal. When the swell is this small, the winds are cross-onshore, and the quality is just "poor," you might find more fun in a kite than a paddle if you’re desperate. But honestly, for now, it’s a waiting game. Forecasts can change, but this one’s lookin’ locked in flat.

Keep the wax dry, and I’ll keep an eye out.

Rusty.

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