El Roque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for El Roque over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a rough stretch. The forecast is showing a real lack of quality surf, and we’re looking at a long, dry spell with no real standout windows.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a wait on our hands. From now through the end of July, it’s a no-go. The swell is there, but it’s coming in with a short, weak period around 7 to 8 seconds and the wind is a real issue. It’s mostly onshore or cross-onshore, blowing from the NNE at 12 to 19 mph, which is just tearing things up. The water temp is sitting at 73°, which is about normal for this time of year, so that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about.

The first few days of August don’t bring much hope either. The first of the month sees the swell drop a little, but the wind is still messy. The 2nd of August has a bit more size, with waves around 6 ft to 6 ft from the NNE, but the period is still a short 7 seconds, and the wind is a gentle cross-onshore, making it a bit choppy. The combined energy is moderate at best (398 to 441), but it’s just not clean enough to get excited about.

We finally see a glimmer on the 3rd of August. The morning shows a cross-onshore wind and a 7 ft swell from the NNE with an 8-second period, and the combined energy is up to 588. The report says it’s a “marginal surf forecast” – it’s the only day in the whole 16-day window that scores even a 1 out of 10. It’s nothing to write home about, but compared to the rest, it’s the best of a bad bunch. The wind is a gentle breeze, so it’s not a total washout, but it’s choppy and not the clean, peeling wave we’d want at this reef. The swell direction is NNE, and the optimum for El Roque is NNW, so the angle is off, which is a big part of the problem.

After that, it’s back to the same story. The 4th of August has a bit more size, up to 7 ft, and the period stretches to 10 seconds, which is a better sign, but the cross-onshore wind is still ruining the surface. The energy climbs to 826, which is a solid moderate energy, but the “poor surf conditions” label tells the whole story.

By the 5th, the swell drops off a cliff, and from the 7th of August onward, the combined energy falls to below 100, meaning it’s weak and not worth paddling out for.

So, the honest truth? There’s no standout. The only day that even comes close to being surfable is the morning of the 3rd of August, and even then, it’s marginal. The rest of the 16 days is a write-off with the wind blowing onshore or cross-onshore, short-period swell, and the wrong direction. It’s a long gap with no recommendations, and that’s just how it goes sometimes. If you’re desperate, you might find a bump on the 3rd, but don’t expect much. For now, the lineup’s empty for a reason.

Rusty.

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