Izquierda Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at this forecast for our spot. Honestly, I’m not gonna lie to you, it’s a rough run. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but from the 20th of July right through to the 4th of August, it’s a write-off for anything decent. The whole period is a gap, really. No standouts, no good windows, just a whole lot of nothing.

Let’s start with the water. The first bit of the forecast shows the water temp at 73°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s about the only nice thing I can say.

For Izquierda, it’s a consistent reef break that’s exposed to the northwest, but the wind is the killer. From Monday the 20th of July, it’s a relentless onshore breeze, mostly from the north or north-northeast, blowing at 18 to 25 mph. That’s a fresh to strong breeze, and it’s smashing the surface. The swells are coming in from the north and north-northeast, with heights from 5 ft up to 7 ft, and the periods are short, mostly 6 to 8 seconds. That’s just windswell, no energy behind it. The combined energy of all swells directed here is weak to moderate, with values like 239, 255, and 217, but it never breaks into anything strong because the wind is trashing it.

The wave comment on every single session is "poor surf conditions," and the score is a flat zero. There’s no morning with a light or offshore wind, nothing glassy. The swell direction is from the north, but the optimum direction for this break is northwest, so it’s not even hitting the spot right. It’s cross-on or directly onshore the whole time, meaning it’s lumpy, choppy, and messy.

The swell does get bigger. By the 25th and 26th of July, we’re looking at 7 ft to 7 ft from the north, with a period of 8 seconds. That’s a bit of energy, but combined with that strong onshore wind, it’s just a washing machine. For a beginner, anything over 5 ft is too much, and with this wind, it’s not safe. For an expert, 7 ft with a short period and onshore wind is just ugly, frustrating surf. You’d be fighting the wind more than riding the wave. Honestly, this setup looks far more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The wind is strong and consistent, so if you’ve got a kite, go for it. For a surfer, you’re better off staying home.

The last couple of days, the 4th of August, the wind lightens up a bit to a light breeze from the east-northeast, but it’s still cross-on. The swell stays small at 5 ft to 5 ft, with an 8-second period from the north. But the "poor surf conditions" tag stays, and the score is still zero. So no dice.

There’s no point in picking a best day. There isn’t one. The only thing to be optimistic about is that this spot is consistent, so the forecast is a rare blank run. It’s not normal for the area to be this bad for this long, so things can change. But for now, don’t expect to get wet.

Stay patient, and I’ll be back when the swell turns.

Rusty.

Read more