Forte dei Marmi (Pontille) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – if you’re lookin’ for a proper surf this fortnight, Forte dei Marmi (Pontille) ain’t gonna get your heart thumpin’. We’ve got a long stretch of flat or near-flat conditions ahead, with only a few tiny glimpses of anything you could paddle for. Fact is, the first real suggestion of surfable waves doesn’t show up until Sunday the 19th, and even then, it’s modest. Most of the rest is a write-off. That’s the reality for this beach/jetty setup right now.

Right now, Thursday the 16th, we’ve got a glassy 1.0ft SW swell with a period of just 4 seconds. Combined wave energy is only 5 – tiny weak stuff. That’s nothin’ to ride. Friday the 17th is even worse, barely a ripple. Saturday the 18th sees a little bump – 1ft in the morning (10 energy) and up to 3ft SW swell by afternoon with 6-second period and moderate energy (86), but winds are cross-onshore and whippin’ up small wind ripples. Surf’s poor, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing honestly.

Now, Sunday the 19th – that’s the one standout across the whole outlook. Early morning, we get a glassy ENE offshore breeze at 3 mph, a clean 3ft SW swell with a 6-second period and wave energy of 58 (moderate). It’s not big, but the conditions are clean and it’s the only morning in the whole 16 days where the stars kinda line up. Great for beginners (it’s under 5ft) but crowds are often here, so expect company. The water temp is about average for the time of year – no anomaly flagged, so it’s comfortable.

After that, it’s a desert. Monday the 20th through the rest of July, nearly every morning is flat or tiny, with glassy conditions but zero swell. A few afternoons show 0.3ft to 1ft with short periods and weak energy (1 to 11), but with onshore or cross-onshore wind. The combined energy barely scrapes double digits. A quick mention – Tuesday the 28th afternoon sees the biggest bump at 3ft S swell with 5-second period and 49 energy, but it’s onshore wind and still classed as poor. Not worth paddlin’ for.

Wednesday the 29th morning gives a last little clean chance – 2ft SSW swell, 6-second period, cross-off wind, but energy is weak (34) and there’s risk of t-storms. By Friday the 31st, we’re back to 0.7ft with clean offshore wind but next to no power.

So, bottom line – the only session I’d even think about is first light on Sunday the 19th at Pontille. Tiny, clean, beginner-friendly, but expect crowds. The rest is pretty much a blank run – which is more normal for this area when the swell just ain’t cooperating. Keep an eye on the forecasts though; it never stays flat forever.

Rusty

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