Izquierda Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right from the start, I gotta be straight with you—this forecast is a rough one. We’re looking at a solid stretch of nothing but onshore northerly winds and junky, weak surf. It’s one of those longer blank runs that just tests your patience. You’re gonna want to find something else to do for a while because Izquierda (Canary Islands) is locked into a bad pattern.

The water's sitting at 73°, which is about average for this time of year, so at least the temps are okay. But that’s about all we’ve got going for us.

We start off this Saturday, August 15th, with a small 4ft windswell, but it’s coming from the north with a 15 mph onshore breeze. It’s messy, weak, and a total write-off. The energy is weak at 194, and it’s just not worth paddling out for.

Sunday and Monday, August 16th and 17th, we’re still stuck in the same rut. Wave heights drop down to 3ft with periods of 7 to 8 seconds. That’s short-period, onshore slop. The wind is still blowing from the NE and N, keeping things chopped up and basically unrideable. The energy is weak, hovering between 116 and 155. It’s the kind of surf that makes you wonder why you even brought your board.

The middle of the week, from Tuesday the 18th through Thursday the 20th, doesn’t offer any relief. It’s the same story: ankle to knee-high mush with periods of 8 seconds at best. The swell direction is still N, and the onshore winds aren't letting up. The combined energy remains weak, dipping down to 109 at times. This is as flat and lifeless as it gets.

We get a slight bump in size on Friday, August 21st, with the swell pushing up to 4ft, and the energy climbs to a moderate 231. But don’t get excited. The period is still only 8 seconds, and it’s still a north windswell hitting a north-facing reef. The 15 mph onshore wind is going to make it a crumbly, sectiony mess. It’s still not worth your time.

The weekend of August 22nd and 23rd sees a similar pattern. A bit of size, up to 5ft on Saturday morning, but the period drops back to 7 seconds and the wind stays on it. The energy is moderate, around 198, but with that short period and constant wind, it’s just a bumpy, bumpy closeout. You’d be fighting a losing battle.

Looking into the following week, from Monday the 24th to Wednesday the 26th, the pattern hasn’t changed. It’s onshore, small, and weak. The wind gets stronger on the 25th and 26th, with gusts pushing 18 mph, making conditions even more unpleasant. The surf is still small, between 3ft and 4ft, and the energy stays in that weak-to-moderate range.

The last few days of the forecast, from the 27th to the 30th, there’s a little more push in the swell. We see 4ft to 5ft waves, and the energy gets up to a moderate 343 by the 30th. But it’s all for nothing—the wind is still howling from the NNE at 15 to 18 mph, and the period is short. It’s just going to be lumpy, bumpy, onshore slop. For a north-facing reef break, this is as bad as it gets. The setup is so wind-blown and junky that it honestly looks like it would be more fun for the kite surfers than for us paddle surfers.

So here’s the deal: don’t bother. There’s nothing on offer in this 16-day window. The spot is consistent, but the waves are consistently bad. It’s one of those times where you just have to wait for the next swell and hope the wind gods change their tune. Forecasts can flip, so keep an eye on it, but for now, find a different hobby.

Rusty.

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