El Palito Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates, Rusty here. We've got the long-range outlook for the local waters, and I have to be straight with you – it's a bleak stretch ahead. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and messy for the most part.

Let's start with the lone spot we've got to work with, El Palito. It's a beach and breakwater setup, fairly exposed, and it's a beginner-friendly wave. The water temperature is sitting at 83°F which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off on Thursday, the 20th, with a tiny 3 ft swell from the NE, but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it's just not holding any power. The combined energy is a weak 54, and that's a theme you'll see repeated. We get a few mornings with a bit of a pulse, like Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd, with 3 ft swells, but the period stays short at 7 seconds, and the energy barely cracks 97. The onshore wind in the mornings is light, but the afternoons are a write-off with a cross-onshore breeze and risk of thunderstorms. The wave comment is "poor surf conditions" across the board, and the scores are a big fat zero. This pattern just drags on through the end of August.

We finally see a glimmer of something on Sunday, the 30th of August. The morning delivers a 3 ft swell from the NE, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy hits 136 – that's moderate, at least. The best news is the wind is glassy. The wave comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions", and it manages a 1 out of 10. It's not going to be a classic, but it's something to paddle out for. The swell direction is from the NE, but the optimum swell direction for El Palito is NNE, so it's a bit off-angle. Still, glassy conditions are rare, so you might get a few fun ones on a longboard.

Then we slide into the first week of September. Tuesday the 1st has another glassy morning with 3 ft swell and a 6-second period, energy a weak 64. It's surfable, but just barely. After that, it's straight back to the doldrums with tiny 0.3 ft swells and no energy to speak of.

Overall, the standout is truly just that Sunday morning, the 30th of August. It's the only time the energy is moderate and the wind is clean. For the rest of the 16 days, it's a long, flat slog. There's a big gap of almost nothing from the 20th through the 29th, and then another gap after the 1st of September. If you're desperate, you can get wet on the 30th, but don't expect much. For beginners, the 3 ft swell is fine, but the short period will make it a bit junky.

Rusty.

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