El Palito Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming up for El Palito over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, I've got to be honest with you – it's looking like a tough stretch ahead for this spot. We're talking about a long, flat spell with only a couple of faint windows of opportunity, and even then, the quality is going to be average at best.

The pattern is pretty grim right from the start. We’ve got this weekend (Sunday, August 30th) with a bit of small swell in the mix, but the wind and the risk of thunderstorms are just wrecking any chance of a decent wave. The swell energy is weak, only about 67 (that's the combined energy reading), and the period is short at 7 seconds. The water is warm at about 83°F, which is about average for this time of year, but you won't be enjoying it in those conditions.

Honestly, the best chance you're going to get in this whole 16-day window is a couple of brief moments. Monday morning, August 31st, is actually the pick of a very bad bunch. We’re looking at a tiny 2ft swell from the northeast, but the wind goes glassy – dead calm. That's a major positive. The waves will be small and clean, but the energy is still weak (58) and the period is a short 6 seconds. The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," which is about right. It’s a beginner-friendly break here, so that tiny, clean surf might be just about okay for a longboard or a foamie. You won't have to fight for waves, but there won't be much to fight for either.

After that, it's pretty much a desert. You're looking at a massive gap. From Tuesday, September 1st, all the way through to the following Saturday, September 12th, there is almost nothing on offer. The forecast is full of "poor surf conditions" and zero scores. A few mornings show a tiny bump of 2ft or so, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making it a messy, choppy shambles. The water temp anomaly isn't even recorded for most of these, so don't expect any changes.

The only other faint glimmer is Saturday morning, September 12th. Again, we get a glassy wind and a slightly bigger swell – pushing up to about 3ft from the northeast. The energy climbs a bit to 88, but the period is still a short 7 seconds. It's still just "surfable but ordinary." For a beginner-friendly beach and breakwater setup, that's the absolute best you'll see, but I’d keep the expectations on the floor.

For a spot like El Palito, this kind of blank run is a bit more normal than you'd hope. It’s a consistent spot, but this forecast is a dud. If you're absolutely desperate, you might scrape a session on the 31st or the 12th when it goes glassy, but otherwise, save the wax and wait for the next system. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a write-off.

Rusty.

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