Farol Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board and listen up. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve got the lowdown on the waves for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a flat, messy stretch ahead. We’ve got swell, but it’s pretty weak and disorganized, and that wind is going to be a constant problem. The overall pattern is one of those periods where you’re better off doing something else with your time, unless you’re desperate for a splash. There’s no real standout size, and the direction is all wrong, coming mostly from the NE to ENE when we need something with more West in it.

Let's start with the first few days. From Tuesday the 18th right through the rest of that week, conditions are just not there. The swell is sticking around the 4ft to 5ft mark, but the period is a short, weak 5 to 7 seconds. That’s just wind chop, not real surf. The wind is blowing onshore, either from the NE or cross-onshore from the E/ESE, so everything is going to be blown out and choppy. Tuesday the 18th has a 5ft NE swell with a 5-second period and a 16 mph onshore wind. The energy is weak, measuring only 103 in the combined swell energy. Water temp is 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won't need a bootie.

The mess continues through the weekend. Friday the 21st has a bit more energy, with the combined swell energy climbing to 167 in the morning, but it’s still a cross-onshore 4ft ENE windswell. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are more of the same, with onshore winds picking up to 19 mph in the afternoons. The energy stays weak to moderate at best.

Things start to shift a little in the second week, but it’s not looking like any kind of salvation. By Monday the 24th there’s a slightly bigger pulse, with the afternoon seeing 6ft of NE windswell pushing the combined energy up to 228, but it’s still that short, weak period and a 19 mph onshore wind. It’s more water moving around, sure, but it’s not surfable. It’s lumpy, messy, and just a chore.

As we push into the final days of August and the start of September, the pattern doesn't change. There are no good waves on offer. The energy remains weak to moderate, and the wind stays onshore from the NE or cross-onshore from the E. On Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th, there’s a bit more size again, but the swell direction is still all wrong and the period remains short. It’s surfable for no one.

So, what’s the verdict? There are zero good surf options in this entire 16-day window. It’s a blank run, which is pretty normal for this area when the trade winds set in like this and we’re not getting any proper groundswell. The only positive I can see is that a few of these days show moderate energy, but that energy is all in the wrong direction and with the wrong wind. With that steady onshore wind and the weak, choppy swell on offer at a beach break like Farol, this setup honestly looks a lot more interesting for the kite surfers than for us paddle surfers.

Keep the boards in the car, but maybe just drive to the coffee shop instead. This stretch is one to forget.

Rusty.

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