Farol Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. There’s no real standout session in the whole window. The wind is just a constant problem, and the swell is short-period, weak stuff that never really gets its act together.

We start off on Thursday the 23rd of July, and it’s already a write-off. The wind is howling cross-on from the east at 12 mph, making a mess of the 4 ft ENE swell. That short, 6-second period stuff just doesn’t have the push to fight that chop. The water’s sitting at 83°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only thing to get excited about. The combined energy is weak at 80, and it’s just poor surf conditions.

This pattern just keeps going. Friday the 24th, Saturday the 25th, Sunday the 26th… it’s the same story. Cross-on winds, mostly from the east at 12 to 16 mph, and weak, short-period swell from the ENE or NE. The energy readings are all over the place, sometimes dipping into the 50s and 60s (weak), and occasionally bumping up to a moderate 125 or 133, but the onshore wind and short period mean the quality is just not there. It’s choppy, bumpy, and not worth the paddle out.

The whole first week and into the second is a total bust. The wind stays on it, and the swell never gets a clean window. The swell height occasionally nudges up to 5 ft on the 28th of July, but with a 19 mph onshore wind, that’s just a washing machine, not a wave. The energy does hit a moderate 175 on the 30th of July, but again, the wind is cross-on and the period is a short 6 seconds.

Even when we roll into August, there’s no relief. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd… it’s all the same. The wind is relentless from the east or northeast, and the swell is coming from the NE or ENE with periods of 4 to 7 seconds. That’s just windswell, folks. The energy is all over the place, from weak 41 up to a moderate 163 on the 3rd of August, but the wind ruins any chance of a clean face.

The lone spot we have data for, Farol, is fairly consistent, but it’s just not working with this wind. It’s an exposed break, and the optimum swell is from the north, but we’re getting a lot of ENE and NE, which is just not the right angle. The onshore to cross-on wind is the real killer. For a beginner-plus spot, this is not a safe or fun situation. Honestly, with this setup, it might be more interesting for the kite surfers than for anyone on a paddle board.

There’s a long gap of poor conditions here. It’s a blank run for quality surf. The forecasts can change, but as it stands, you’re better off saving your energy. There’s just nothing to chase.

Rusty.

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