Jalama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight about the next couple weeks at Jalama. We’re looking at a lot of onshore chop to start, and the real juice doesn’t fire until we’re deep into the second week. The first several days are mostly a lean stretch for a decent paddle.

Water temp is near normal for this time of year, around 62°, so no surprises there.

Now, the long-range forecast is the one that’s got me pumped. We’ve got a serious one lining up for Thursday, September 3rd. That afternoon, the swell is predicted to hit 10 feet from the northwest with an 8-second period, and the energy is through the roof. The combined energy reads 1753, which is strong. The winds are expected to be clean, but here’s the rub – that sort of size at Jalama is way beyond a comfortable level. It’s a heavy wave anyway, and with that kind of power, it’s strictly for the best of the best. If you’re a expert, you might be in for a day you’ll never forget, but for the rest of us, the cliff is the safest place to be.

Before that, the pattern is pretty flat. From Thursday the 20th into the weekend, we’ve got some small SSW swell around 3-3 feet with a long 14-second period, but the cross wind just messes it up. The energy is middling (around 548), but the shape is poor. The next few days just roll into one long stretch of weak, short-period NW windswell that won’t do much. There’s a small window on Monday the 24th with a cleaner 4-foot NW swell, but it’s still just lunchbox-sized waves.

The best stretch actually kicks off in the final week. Around Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th, a long-period south swell moves in. The period jumps to 13 seconds, which is proper groundswell, and the energy is climbing into the strong territory (1156 on Wednesday afternoon). The direction isn't quite right for Jalama’s ideal southwest, but it will be the best we’ve seen. Expect waves around 4 to 5 feet with cleaner conditions, especially Wednesday afternoon. It’ll be a bit inconsistent, and a long-period swell can close out a beach break, but it’s our best chance at some real push.

As we move into September 1st, the swell builds again, but it’s still that short-period NW windswell, so quality will remain average. The main event is that Thursday the 3rd, but it’s strictly for the big dogs.

If it gets rough and the wind is cross, you might see a few kites out there. For now, keep your plans light for the next week, and mark your calendar for next Wednesday for a possible clean little session.

Rusty, out.

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