La Barra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking like a bit of a grind for decent waves. The swell is there, but the wind is going to be the story, and it's not a good one. We’ve got a long stretch of messy, cross-onshore conditions that are going to make things tough. It’s not a total write-off, but you’re going to have to pick your moments.

We’re looking at a run of days here where the surf is just going to be a choppy, blown-out mess. The energy is moderate, with values like 365 and 304, but the wind is killing it. From Friday the 14th all the way through to Sunday the 23rd, it’s a relentless series of cross-onshore winds, mostly from the north, with the swell bouncing between 3ft and 6ft and a short, weak period of 6-9 seconds. Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th have some size, around 5ft, but the 12-15 mph NNE wind will have it chopped up and lumpy. It’s the kind of surf that looks better from the beach than it feels out in the water. The water temp is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 75°F, so you won't need a thick suit, just a lot of patience.

There's a little tease on Sunday the 23rd. The morning is still poor, but by the afternoon the wind finally backs off and goes cross-shore. The swell drops to 4ft with an 8-second period, and the energy is moderate at 204. It’s the only time in the whole stretch that the forecast points to "marginal" conditions instead of "poor." It's not perfect, but it might be the only chance for a surfable wave. Then, just as quickly as it hinted at improvement, the wind goes back onshore on Monday the 24th and we're back to the choppy stuff.

Now, looking further out, the second week is more promising, but it's a long-range call, so don't bank on it. Around Tuesday the 25th, into Wednesday the 26th, the swell starts to pick up. The energy builds significantly, hitting 476 and then a strong 483. We're looking at a solid 6ft of swell. The wind is still cross-onshore, which is a damn shame, but there's more power in the water. It's a long way out, but this is the most interesting part of the forecast.

And then, to wrap things up on Saturday the 29th, there’s a real pulse of energy. The swell is 6ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon, but the combined energy jumps to 585 and then a very strong 847. That's a serious push of water. The period is still on the shorter side at 8 seconds, and the wind is still that damn cross-onshore breeze. It's a raw, powerful, but messy setup. If the wind ever decides to cooperate, La Barra could be firing. But as it stands, it's going to be a battle.

Given the persistent wind and the beach and reef setup, this stretch looks like it could be more interesting for the kite crew than for us paddle surfers. There's plenty of wind and some sizeable waves, so if that's your thing, keep an eye on it. For a regular surfer, keep your expectations low for the next week, and then keep your fingers crossed for the final few days.

Rusty, out.

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