Jalama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s headed our way for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next week is a bit of a grind. There’s nothing really jumping out as a cracker session. The swell is coming in from the NW mostly, but the winds are a mess – mostly cross-shore, which is giving us a lumpy, choppy surface. The wave energy is moderate to strong at times, with values like 633 and 1306, but the quality just isn’t there for a proper paddle session.

Wednesday the 15th kicks off with a 5-foot NW swell at 7 seconds, but it’s a cross-shore wind and the report says "poor surf conditions," so leave the board on the car. Thursday the 16th sees a bump to 8 feet, but it’s still cross-shore in the morning, cleaning up to a cross-off in the afternoon. That’s a bit better, but with a period of 8-9 seconds, it’s not going to have much shape. The 8-foot mark is pushing expert territory, so it’s a bit of a beast for the average surfer.

Friday the 17th has a weird drop to 3 feet in the afternoon, but check this out: an 18-second period from the WNW. That’s a long-period groundswell, but it’s tiny. The energy is still moderate (802). That long period will make it break straight at a beach break, but if you can find a point or a reef, it might be worth a look. The winds are a gentle breeze, so it’s not too messy.

The whole first week and into the second is a mixed bag of NW and SW swells, but the wind is always cross or cross-off, and the scores are all "marginal." It’s not flat, but it’s not firing. The 19th and 20th see a shift to SSW swell with a decent 16-17 second period, but the size is down around 3 feet to 3 feet. The energy is still moderate (976, 1090), so there’s some push, but the wind is still a problem.

Now, if you’re looking for the best of what’s on offer, you have to look at the end of the run. Saturday the 25th afternoon looks like a real standout. The swell swings around to the S at 5 feet with a 15-second period, and the wind is a moderate cross-off from the NW, which will keep it clean. The energy jumps to 1796, which is strong. That’s a proper south swell pulse with good period.

Sunday the 26th keeps that S swell going, a bit bigger at 7 feet in the morning, but the wind is cross. The afternoon cleanup is better with that cross-off again, dropping to 6 feet at 13 seconds. That’s still a solid wave, but it’s in the expert zone at 7 feet. The energy is really pumping, hitting 2371 on Sunday morning.

So, the pick of the week? I’d be looking at Jalama on Saturday the 25th afternoon. That 5-foot south swell with a 15-second period and clean cross-off wind is your best bet. It’s a sweet spot: not too big, not too small, and the long period will give it some serious punch. Crowds are a possibility here, so get in early.

After that, the swell backs off a bit through the 27th and 28th, but it’s still a consistent SSW groundswell. The winds are a bit stronger on the 28th – a fresh breeze – so it’ll be lumpy again. The 29th and 30th fade out, ending with a 3-foot SSW swell and poor conditions on the 30th.

Overall, it’s a slow burner. The first week is a write-off for quality, but the second week, especially the 25th and 26th, offers some real promise. Don’t get your hopes up for the early days, but keep an eye on that south swell building.

Rusty.

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