El Suicidio Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee and I’ll run it all down in feet and miles per hour.

The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag at El Suicidio, and right now, we’re in a flat spell. The first few days are a write-off – small, weak waves with light cross-onshore breezes. The water temp is about 52°, so nothing unusual for the season, but you’ll want a good wetsuit. Nothing to get your heart rate up.

Friday, August 21st, we get a pulse of swell. The wave height is around 6ft from the south, but the period is a short 7 seconds, and the wind is howling onshore at 22 mph. The combined energy is 255 (moderate), but the surf is going to be lumpy and messy. Not a good day.

The weekend of August 22nd and 23rd sees the swell building, but the wind is still a problem. Saturday has 5ft swell from the south, period up to 10 seconds, and moderate cross-onshore winds. The energy is in the 400s (moderate), but the quality is poor. Sunday, the 23rd, gets bigger. The morning has 7ft swell from the south, with an 11-second period and a combined energy of 1089 (strong). By the afternoon, it’s pushing 8ft from the SSE, with a 13-second period and a massive energy of 2024 (very strong). The wind is offshore, but it’s a fresh breeze. This is big, powerful, long-period groundswell. For a point break like El Suicidio, that’s a good thing, but this is expert-only territory. There’s also a note about questionable tide conditions, so check that before you paddle out.

Monday, August 24th, is the day to circle. The morning is clear, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE at just 3 mph. The swell is 6ft from the SSE, with a 12-second period, and the combined energy is 852 (moderate to strong). The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions”. This is the standout. Offshore wind, clean waves, solid size. The afternoon gets windier, but the morning session is the one.

After that, the swell drops off. Tuesday, August 25th, still has clean waves in the morning, but the swell is down to 4ft. The afternoon has offshore wind and clean conditions, but the waves are small at 3ft. The energy is fading fast.

From Wednesday, August 26th, through the end of the month, it’s a slow fade. The waves get smaller, the wind occasionally turns offshore, but it’s all in the 1ft to 4ft range. The energy is weak, and the quality is poor or marginal. There’s a little spark on Sunday, August 30th, with a morning offshore breeze and a 3ft swell from the SSE with a 12-second period, giving a combined energy of 222 (moderate). The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions”, but it’s small. You’ll need a longboard.

The first few days of September are more of the same: small, short-period swell, mixed winds, and marginal conditions. There’s a chance on Wednesday, September 2nd, with a 6ft SSE swell and an 11-second period, but the wind is cross-shore and the energy is 792 (moderate). The surf is there, but it’s not the cleanest.

The one to lock in is Monday morning, August 24th. That’s the combination of clean offshores, solid groundswell, and a point break that’ll handle the long period. The rest of the window is either too small, too windy, or too big and tricky. Paddle hard, pick your set, and hope the tide is on your side.

Rusty.

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