Joaquina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking for Joaquina over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow start, but there’s some real shine later on if you’re patient.

Right now, we’re seeing a bit of a flat spell. The first decent wave we get is on Friday the 10th, but it’s a real scratchy one with rain showers and a cross-on breeze. I wouldn’t bother paddling out just yet.

Things pick up quietly on Saturday the 11th. The morning has a clean 4 ft swell from the ESE with a nice 13 second period and a cross-off wind. That’s a decent setup, and the energy is moderate (503). The water is running at 60°F which is much colder than normal for this time of year – a full 6°F below average, so you’ll want a good thick wetsuit. The afternoon holds similar, clean conditions too, so that Saturday is your first real window.

Sunday the 12th starts clean again with similar 4 ft ESE swell, but by the afternoon the wind swings to the south at a fresh 19 mph and the period drops to a short 8 seconds. That’s going to get lumpy and messy. The energy is moderate (875) but the quality is gone.

Monday the 13th is a write-off with strong onshore winds and poor surf. Just stay home.

Now here’s the standout. Tuesday the 14th is your best bet. The morning has a clean 5 ft swell from the SE with a 10 second period and almost no wind at all – a slight air from the WNW making it glassy. The energy is moderate (537). That’s clean, lined-up waves begging to be ridden. The afternoon gets even better with a 6 ft ESE swell at 11 seconds and a gentle cross-off breeze. Energy bumps up to 668. This is the pick of the forecast.

Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th stay clean and surfable with similar 5 ft to 5 ft ESE swells and cross-off winds, but the crowd factor at Joaquina means you’ll have company. It’s often busy here, so get out early.

From Friday the 17th onward, we see the swell steadily dropping. By the weekend of the 18th and 19th, it’s down to 1 ft or less. Sunday the 19th is basically flat with a tiny 0.7 ft swell and barely any energy (18). The whole second week, from the 18th to the 25th of July, is a long gap of tiny, weak surf. There’s a brief blip on the 23rd with a 2 ft SSE swell, but the period is all over the place. Nothing worth chasing.

In short: your window is Saturday the 11th for a nice clean starter, but Tuesday the 14th is the day to circle on the calendar. Get on it before the flat spell takes over for the rest of the month.

Rusty.

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