Jameos del Agua Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here. Let's be honest, this 16-day stretch for Jameos del Agua (Lanzarote) is a tough one to call. Looking at the whole run, the swell and wind just aren't lining up for any kind of classic session. We've got a lot of lumpy, cross-shore wind messing things up, and the few cleaner windows are on tiny, weak waves. There's one day, about a week out, that shows a bit of promise, but it's still pretty average.

The first week is a write-off. From Friday the 29th of August through the 4th of September, it's a constant battle with a fresh NNE breeze, mostly cross or cross-on. The waves are there, between 6ft and 8ft, and that pushes the combined energy into the moderate-to-strong range – we're seeing values of 307 up to a solid 1381 – but it's all chopped up and messy. Swell periods are short, mostly 7 to 8 seconds, which just adds to the chaos. Don't even bother looking at Saturday the 2nd of September when the wind is hitting 28 mph and the waves are over 8ft; that's just a washing machine out there.

The only glimmer of hope in the first week is Friday the 4th of September. The wind finally eases, going light and cross-off from the NW. The swell drops to 5ft – 5ft from the north with an 8-second period. It’s still not great, with combined energy at 259, but it's clean, and that's a huge plus after days of chop. It's probably the only time it looks like a proper surf is possible. It's the closest thing to a standout we've got, and it's not saying much.

After that, the swell just dies off. From the 5th right through to the 10th, it's mostly small and weak, with waves dropping below 3ft. The winds are lighter and often cross-off, which will make the ocean look pretty, but there's no push to ride. A long-period NW groundswell mixes in around the 7th and 8th, but the energy is far too low to do anything. This is a real flat spell.

Then, on the 11th of September, we see a pulse of new energy arrive. The swell jumps back up to 7ft – 7ft from the NNE. But here's the kicker – the wind is back on it, a fresh cross-shore breeze that will chop it all up again. Energy reads a moderate 505 and 589, but the quality just isn't there. It’s a shame because it's the biggest swell event in the back half of the forecast, but the conditions will foil it.

So, in the end, the only thing close to a recommendation is that Friday the 4th. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is nice, but the surf just isn't going to cooperate. It's one of those weeks to find something else to do. Be patient, forecasts change, and when that wind goes offshore, this place can light up. Hopefully, we get a better run next time. This is Rusty, signing off.

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