El Porto Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, checking in from the local sand. Let’s be real with you—this 16-day window for El Porto Beach is looking pretty flat and frustrating. The run of proper surf is basically non-existent right from the start. We’ve got a big gap of nothingness here. The first sign of any kind of pulse isn’t until the morning of the 15th of August, and even then, it’s a gutless little 3 ft swell from the SSW with a weak period. That’s a solid week of waiting for barely a ripple.

The water is absolutely roasting right now, 72°F, which is a massive 7°F warmer than normal—very unusual for this time of year. Don’t even need a spring suit, just boardshorts.

For the first week, from the 7th right through to the 14th, it’s a total write-off. We’re looking at tiny 1 ft to 2 ft slop, mostly cross-onshore winds from the WSW or SW, and the wave energy is weak. The combined energy values are all in the low hundreds, like 144 or 212, which tells you there’s just no push. It’s choppy, messy, and the reports are all "poor surf conditions." Not worth paddling out for.

The 15th of August finally shows a slight bump. The swell height creeps up to 3 ft from the SSW, and the energy jumps to 362—still only moderate, but it’s something. The morning of the 15th has a light 3 mph wind, but it’s still cross-onshore, so expect a bit of texture. The tide is going to be a factor, and it’s still only a marginal call. The 16th and 17th mornings are similar, with 2 ft to 3 ft swells and light cross-onshore winds, but the period is short at 14-15 seconds, so it’s not going to have much shape.

The one true standout in this whole bleak outlook is the morning of the 19th of August. That’s your best bet. We’ve got a 2 ft SSW swell, but the wind finally swings around to a light 9 mph cross-offshore from the SSE. That’s clean. The report says "expect good surf conditions" for the first time. The wave energy is 220, which is moderate. For a beach break like El Porto, that long period (15 seconds) might make it a little straight, but with that clean wind, there will be some fun little peaks. It’s not a day for the big boards, but for a groveler or a fish, it’ll be the best session of the entire 16 days. Expect a few other folks out there, as the crowds are often here.

After that, it fades back into the same old story of tiny, onshore slop for the rest of the window. If you’re desperate, the 15th through 18th mornings offer the only other slight chance, but the 19th morning is the only one that’s genuinely clean. Keep your expectations low, and you might get a few fun ones.

Rusty.

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