Hierro Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, checking in on the local scene. Let's be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a decent paddle. We’ve got a lot of onshore wind and messy, weak swell for days on end. It's a long stretch of frustrating conditions, so don't be in a rush to get your hopes up.

The first real chance of anything surfable doesn't pop up until the tail end of the window. For the first week, from July 6th through to the 18th, we're stuck in a holding pattern. The wind is a constant cross-onshore from the north, mostly in the 9 to 19 mph range, and the swell is tiny, weak, and short-period. A lot of the combined energy readings are well under 100 (like 24 to 218), and the wave comment is consistently "poor surf conditions". There's nothing to get excited about here. It's more of a wind-kite or a beach day than a surf day, honestly.

Around the 12th of July, we get a slight bump in combined energy to 130 on Sunday afternoon, but it's still a messy 2.6 ft cross-onshore affair. The following week, the swell does start to build, but it's still plagued by cross-onshore winds. You'll see heights reaching 3.6 ft to 4.3 ft, with combined energy creeping into the 150-218 range, but the wind is just too strong and from the wrong direction to clean it up. It's lumpy, choppy, and just not worth the drive.

Now, the real standout is the very end of the forecast – for the 19th and 20th of July. We’re looking at a solid pulse of groundswell. The combined energy jumps dramatically to 727 and 855, which is a strong signal. Swell heights are hitting 6.2 ft to 6.9 ft from the north, with a period of 9 to 10 seconds. That's a proper, powerful swell. The problem is, the wind is still a grinding cross-onshore from the NNW and N at 9-19 mph. For a spot like Hierro, a reef break that's exposed to the NNW, this is a real mixed bag. The swell direction is exactly what it wants, and the size (6.2 ft to 6.9 ft) is solid and punchy. But the wind is going to make it a choppy, bumpy, and difficult session. The water temp is 72.1° right now, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's a distant memory by the time we get to this swell.

This is expert territory. At 6.6 ft, it's too big for beginners, and with that cross-onshore wind hitting a reef, it'll be a wild, challenging ride. The window of opportunity is narrow. The period is long enough to bring some real energy, but that wind will be a constant battle. It's not a classic, clean day, but for those of you willing to wrestle with it, it's the only real swell on the horizon. Crowds are "sometimes" an issue here, but with the conditions, it might be a bit quieter. Don't expect perfection, but if you're an expert, it's the only game in town.

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