El Roque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook is a tough one. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a write-off for decent waves at El Roque. The swell is coming in from the NNE, but the winds are blowing from the N and NNW, which puts them straight onshore. That’s the kiss of death for a reef break like this. Expect bumpy, blown-out conditions with no real quality to speak of. The wave energy is moderate, sitting around 200 to 300, but it’s just not translating into anything rideable.

The water temp is about average for this time of year, which is a small comfort, but the surf is just not cooperating.

August 8th to 11th: We’re stuck with 5 ft to 6 ft of short-period (7 seconds) NE windswell, but with a solid 12 to 16 mph wind from the N and NNW, it’s all onshore mush. Not a single window of clean surf. The energy is a modest 259 to 282, but it’s just a mess.

August 12th to 14th: The swell drops a tad to 5 ft to 6 ft, and the period stays short at 6 to 7 seconds. The wind is still onshore from the N and NNE at 12 mph. The energy picks up a bit on the 14th, hitting 455, but the wind is still ruining it. It’s poor surf conditions all the way.

August 15th to 17th: The swell builds a bit, hitting 7 ft on the 15th morning, but the period is still a weak 8 seconds. With 12 mph wind from the N onshore, it’s a washing machine. The energy does climb to 543 on the 15th, so there’s some power in the water, but it’s not surfable. This is the kind of setup that looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

August 18th to 23rd: The swell starts to fade, dropping from 5 ft to 4 ft, and finally the period bumps up to 9 seconds, which is a sign of longer-period groundswell. But the wind is still onshore or cross-onshore from the N, NNE, or NE. The energy drops off to around 172 by the 23rd. Even with the longer period, the onshore wind is just going to chop it up.

There is no standout here. Nothing to recommend. The wind just won’t let up, and the swell direction is all wrong for the reef. It’s a blank run for El Roque, and sometimes that’s just how it goes. Forecasts can change, but for now, save the gas.

Rusty.

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