Joaquina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, looking over the local forecast for Joaquina. It’s a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, but there are a few sessions worth paddling out for if you pick your moments.

We start off with a bit of a wait. Thursday the 13th isn’t the best call – we’ve got a solid 5ft swell from the SSE with a 14-second period, so there's decent energy (785) in the water, but that cross-onshore breeze messes it up, making conditions choppy and borderline. Thursday afternoon gets even worse. So, hold tight.

Friday the 14th is where we see some light. The morning slot is looking sweet – glassy conditions with a light rain, and a clean 4ft swell from the SE at a nice 13-second interval. That’s the kind of start to the day that gets you out of bed. The wave energy is solid (703), and with the offshore wind and glassy surface, this is your standout window for clean, lined-up waves. Get out there early.

Friday afternoon the wind shifts a bit cross-onshore, so the magic fades.

Saturday the 15th holds some promise, with a 5ft swell from the east, but the period drops to a short 8 seconds. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean, but that shorter period means less push and a bit more chop on the face. Still, it’s rideable. The energy is moderate (415 and 339 for the morning and afternoon).

Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th are quiet – the swell drops right off to almost nothing on Monday, with puny waves and terrible energy readings (down to 25). The whole week from the 18th through to the 22nd is a write-off. We get some SSE energy, but the wind is howling onshore – strong cross-onshore, choppy, messy. Not worth a look.

Now, look ahead to Sunday the 23rd of August. This is a real blip on the radar. The swell picks up to a solid 7ft from the S, with a period around 9-10 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to over 1000 – that's strong, heavy water. The catch? It’s mostly cross-onshore or onshore wind, so it’ll be raw and bumpy. That size (7ft) is getting into expert territory – probably too big for beginners, and with onshore wind, it’ll be a challenge even for the skilled crew. If you’re an experienced local, it could be a wild session, but don’t expect a pretty wave.

Monday the 24th looks much more appealing. We’re back to glassy conditions in the morning with a 4ft SE swell and 9-second period. That’s a clean, fun size for a lot of people. The energy is moderate (220) but the glassy surface makes it a joy to surf. This is your second standout: Monday morning, clean and empty-feeling.

After that, the end of the month sees a few small pulses. Thursday the 27th afternoon has a surprise glass-off with a 4ft SSE swell and an 8-second period – that could be a sneaky good, clean session for the late shift. Energy is moderate (224). Friday the 28th morning is small but clean with cross-offshore wind.

Overall: The best bets are Friday morning the 14th for a clean, glassy session with a proper long-period groundswell (SE, 4ft, 13s), and Monday morning the 24th for another glassy morning with fun, clean waves. The bigger swell on the 23rd is for experts only and will be messy with the wind. The rest of the window has long stretches of flat, poor conditions. Keep your eye on the forecasts – things can change, but this run feels like a waiting game.

Rusty

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