Izquierda Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. I’ve got one spot on the radar, and it’s a bit of a tough one for the next couple of weeks.

We’re looking at Izquierda, a reef break that’s exposed to the swell and consistent. The water’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 75°F, so you can leave the thick rubber at home.

The bad news is, for the first week and a half, there’s pretty much nothing doing. The surf forecast is a long, dry stretch of poor surf conditions. From Thursday the 3rd right through to Tuesday the 15th of September, every single session is rated as poor. The onshore and cross-onshore winds are relentless, blowing from the north and northeast, keeping the wave face messy and choppy. Swell heights hardly get over 4ft, and the periods are short, mostly 6 to 8 seconds, so it’s weak, crumbly, and hard to get a good one. The energy is weak to moderate at best, with readings like 97 (weak) and 222 (moderate) but it’s just not coming together with the wind. This is a blank run that’s more normal for this area when the trade winds set in.

Now, there’s a flicker of hope for the second week. On Wednesday the 16th of September, we finally see a spike in the combined swell energy to 532 (strong energy) from a long-period NW groundswell at 15 seconds. That’s a very long period, and while it brings serious energy, it’s not ideal for a beach or reef setup that’s not a point break. The swell is still small at 2ft, and the wind is cross-shore, so it won’t be clean. This is a promise, not a guarantee.

The real standout, if you’re a patient soul, looks to be Thursday the 17th of September. The morning shows a NW swell at 4ft with a 14-second period, and the energy is pumping at 512 (strong). The wind is blowing onshore from the north, so it’s not going to be glassy, but that’s a lot of water moving. The wave comment still says “poor surf conditions” though, so don’t get your hopes up. For a true standout, the wind needs to cooperate. As it stands, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing given the strong winds and moderate swell.

Bottom line: no good surf on offer for the next 16 days at Izquierda. The first week is a write-off, and the second week has some raw energy but the wind is against us. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, I’d be looking elsewhere.

Rusty.

Read more