Escollera Sur (Mar del Plata) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve been poring over the charts for our local stretch. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week or so is looking pretty ordinary. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf and less-than-ideal winds. The real action doesn’t kick in until the start of the second week, and even then, it’s a mixed bag.

First up, we’ve got Escollera Sur (Mar del Plata). The water is sitting at 50°F, which is a touch warmer than we’d normally expect for this time of year – not a big deal, but worth a mention if you’re suiting up.

For the immediate future, from Saturday the 29th through the following Thursday, the 3rd of September, it’s pretty grim. The swell is tiny, mostly around 1 ft to 2 ft from the east, with a short, weak period of 8 to 10 seconds. The combined energy is super low, barely scratching 95, so there’s just no punch. Saturday morning is the best of a bad lot with a glassy offshore wind from the WNW at 9 mph, but the waves are still just ankle-to-knee high. It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for a mediocre ride.

After that, we hit a real lull. From Sunday the 30th right through to Friday the 4th, the models are calling it “poor surf conditions” almost every session. The swell stays tiny, and the wind is all over the shop – cross-off, cross-shore, and even some cross-on junk. The energy drops into the 20s and 30s, which is just about flat. Honestly, don’t bother getting wet.

Then things get a bit wild. On Saturday the 5th of September, a big southerly swell tries to push in, with heights jumping to 10 ft to 12 ft and a period of 10 to 12 seconds. The energy rockets up to 1859 and then 3591, which is serious power. But the wind is a fresh cross-shore from the SW at 22 mph, and the wave comment says it’s lumpy cross-chop. This is a classic case of “too much, too messy” – this break is a beach/breakwater setup, and with that wind, it’s gonna be a washing machine. Honestly, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Sunday the 6th gets even bigger, with a 13 ft swell from the SSE and a 14-second period – that’s a proper groundswell with a ton of energy (6191 in the morning, 11400 in the afternoon!). But the model straight-up says it’s “too big for this break.” The wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making it a no-go. Even for experts, this is a danger zone.

Monday the 7th of September settles down a bit to 8 ft to 8 ft from the SSE, but it’s still lumpy with cross-shore winds. The forecast calls it “marginal,” and I’d agree – it’s messy and not worth the effort.

Now, for the standout. Tuesday the 8th of September is your best bet. The swell drops to a manageable 5 ft from the SE, with a 12-second period – that’s got some decent energy (728). But the real winner is the morning: glassy conditions, with zero wind from the NNW. That’s right, dead calm. The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is a proper window for some clean, fun waves at Escollera Sur. The swell is coming from the SE, which is close to the optimum direction for this spot, so the shape should be good. Look for a morning session.

The rest of that week fades out. Wednesday the 9th has a cleaner morning with a 4 ft swell and light cross-off wind, but it’s smaller. Thursday the 10th is back to tiny surf with glassy conditions, but it’s just too small to get excited about.

Then we have a late bloomer. Sunday the 13th of September is another potential highlight. The swell picks up to 7 ft from the east, with an 11-second period, giving it solid energy (1081). The morning has a light cross-off wind from the WNW at 6 mph, and the forecast calls it “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s a big call. At 7 ft, it’s a bit too big for beginners, but for intermediate to advanced crew, this could be a ripper. The east swell direction is decent for the break, and with clean conditions, it’s worth marking on your calendar. The afternoon gets a bit messy with cross-shore wind, so hit it early.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The second week brings a dangerous swell on the weekend, but Tuesday the 8th and Sunday the 13th are your real windows for quality surf. Keep an eye on that Tuesday morning – it’s the cleanest and most consistent option of the whole run.

Rusty.

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