El Roque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next 16 days are pretty grim, to be honest. There’s no real standout period, and for most of the run, the surf is gonna be messy and unappealing. We’ve got a few scattered moments that might be worth a paddle, but nothing that’ll have you calling in sick for.

Right now, and for the next several days, it’s pretty much a write-off. The wind is howling from the north-northeast and northeast, cross-onshore, and the swell is a messy mix of short-period windswell with heights around 3 ft to 6 ft, but the energy is weak to moderate (100 to 341). The wave quality is poor, and it’s choppy as hell. That runs right through the end of August and into the first week of September.

There’s a tiny flicker of hope on Friday, September 4th, in the morning. At El Roque (reef), the wind finally swings around to the north-northwest, light, and blows straight offshore. Swell is small at 4 ft from the north-northeast, but the period is a meagre 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak (214). The guidance says it’s a fairly consistent spot, and the optimum swell direction is from the north-northwest, so that offshore wind is a big plus for clean conditions. It’s listed as a beginner-friendly break, but it’s a reef, so keep your wits about you. Expect crowds now and then. It’s not a standout, but it’s the only window in the whole forecast where you might get a clean, rideable wave.

After that, it’s more of the same: onshore or unknown winds, poor surf, and energy readings that flicker between weak and moderate (177 to 365). The swell stays small, and the period is short, except for a brief uptick on Sunday, September 6th, where the period jumps to 14 seconds from the north, but the swell is tiny at 2 ft to 2 ft. That’s a long-period groundswell, which normally means better shape, but there’s just not enough height to do anything with it.

By Wednesday, September 9th, the wind shifts back to cross-onshore from the northwest, and the swell gets a bit of a bump, hitting 6 ft from the northeast with energy climbing to 583. But the period is still short at 7 seconds, and the wind state is choppy. It’s not clean paddling.

Friday, September 11th, morning shows a last gasp: 6 ft from the north-northeast, 8-second period, and a light breeze from the north-northeast. The combined energy is 489, moderate. But the wind is onshore, so it’s unlikely to be anything special.

Honestly, this is a tough 16-day run. If you’re desperate, the morning of September 4th is your best bet for a clean, though small, session at El Roque. For the rest of it, you’re better off staying home, tuning your board, or checking the forecast again in a few days. Things can change quick.

Rusty

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