El Zonte Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Gather 'round, surf crew – Rusty here. We've got a solid run of surf coming up at El Zonte, no doubt about it. The water is sitting at 86°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so leave the thick wetsuit at home.

We kick things off on Monday the 31st of August morning. It's not huge, with chest-to-shoulder high swell at 4 ft coming from the SW with a solid 13-second period, pumping a moderate 485 energy. The wind is absolutely glass, dead calm. That's the ticket. Expect good surf – clean, long lines, a proper reef/point setup.

The week ahead is consistent. Tuesday the 1st of September morning drops a little to 3 ft, cross-on wind, so it's chop city – not worth the paddle. Wednesday the 2nd September has a bit of energy in the morning (568 energy, 3 ft) but that cross-on breeze spoils the party. The afternoons generally get cross-on and messy through this period.

Now, the standouts. Thursday the 3rd of September morning is glassy again, 3 ft SSW swell, but it's the afternoon that's tempting – glassy with 4 ft SW, 15-second period, and a solid 698 energy. Very good surf on offer.

Friday the 4th of September morning is the best of the first week. Big 5 ft SW groundswell at 17 seconds – that's proper long-period, which will wrap beautifully around the point. The energy is a beefy 1412, and it's perfectly glassy. This is for the experienced crew only; it'll be pumping and the sets will be serious. Crowds are always possible at El Zonte, so get out early.

Saturday the 5th of September morning is the second big highlight, pushing 6 ft (over 5 ft, so hold onto your board) from the SSW, 16-second period, 1388 energy, and again completely glass. Excellent conditions for experienced surfers. That's a back-to-back heater.

Sunday the 6th of September sees a drop to 5 ft in the morning, but a light offshore breeze from the NW will keep it clean. A solid option.

After that, the surf settles into a very consistent rhythm through the second week, from Monday the 7th of September right through to Tuesday the 15th of September. Mornings are mostly glassy, with swell sitting between 2 ft and 4 ft, and periods from 13 to 18 seconds. The energy stays moderate, mostly between 400 and 700. The standout mornings to chase are Monday the 7th (4 ft, 14s, glass), Tuesday the 8th (3 ft, glass), and Saturday the 12th (3 ft, dead calm, glass). The afternoon winds spin onshore each day, but those dawnies are pure gold. Monday the 14th of September is worth a special mention – it's only 2 ft, but that's a straight 18-second groundswell (433 energy) with glassy conditions. Perfect for a longboard.

Overall, El Zonte is on. Get ready for a solid two weeks of waves. The first three days of September are the real deal.

Rusty.

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