Farol Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, it's a tough stretch. We’ve got a solid 16-day window, but the first thing that jumps out is the wind. It’s just not playing ball. From the start on Tuesday, July 28th, through to the end of the forecast, we’re looking at a persistent cross-on or onshore breeze at Farol. That means chop, bump, and generally poor surf conditions every single day. The swell is hanging around the 3 ft to 5 ft mark, mostly from the ENE and NE, with a short, weak period of 5 to 7 seconds. That’s not a groundswell; it’s just wind-slop. The combined energy is weak to moderate, but the wind just ruins the surface. It’s a real shame because the water is a touch warmer than normal at 82°, which is about 2° above average for this time of year. But you won’t be enjoying it much with that onshore chop.

The pattern doesn’t let up. Wednesday the 29th, Thursday the 30th, and Friday the 31st of July are all the same story: clean skies but messy, cross-on waves. The wind speeds are a steady 12 to 19 mph, and it’s blowing straight on from the NE in the afternoons. The swell height barely changes, and the period stays short, so there’s no power or shape to the waves. It’s just a battle against the wind.

Moving into the first week of August, it’s more of the same. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd, Monday the 3rd, the swell is still small and weak. There’s a brief moment on Monday morning, August 3rd, where the wind goes cross-shore from the ESE at 9 mph, giving a gentle breeze with only slight cross-chop. That’s the best wind we see in the whole outlook, but even then, the swell is only 3 ft from the ENE with a 7-second period. It’s rideable, but far from a standout.

The second week is where we see a bit more energy, but the wind stays stubborn. By Tuesday, August 4th, the swell picks up a touch to 5 ft, but it’s still cross-on and choppy. Wednesday, August 5th, is a write-off with clouds and onshore wind. The pattern continues all the way through to the end of the forecast on Wednesday, August 12th. On that last day, the swell actually bumps up to 6 ft from the NE. That’s the biggest swell of the period, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph onshore from the NE. It’s going to be a messy, blown-out mess. For a beginner-friendly spot like Farol, that 6 ft wave with onshore wind is going to be a handful and not very fun.

Honestly, there’s not a single day I’d call a standout. The best bet is to keep an eye on Monday morning, August 3rd, when the wind is at its lightest and most cross-shore. If you’re desperate, you might get a few clean enough waves, but temper your expectations. For the rest of the time, this is a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one. The water is warm, but the conditions just aren’t there for a good wave. It’s a long, frustrating gap of poor surf, and it doesn’t look like it’ll break until the wind changes direction.

Rusty.

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