La Barra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for La Barra. Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – this outlook is a tough one to sell. The pattern for the next two weeks is pretty grim. We have a massive gap at the start with absolutely no surf worth paddling out for. The first real chance of anything even close to rideable doesn't show up until Wednesday, July 29th, and even that is only a 1/10 on the score. So we’re looking at a solid two-week stretch of wind-battered, choppy, and generally poor conditions.

The water temp is sitting at a nice 73°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won't be freezing while you’re sitting there watching the closeouts.

The first spot that even gets a marginal mention is La Barra itself. It's a beach and reef setup, exposed to the swell, and it's very consistent so it always has something. The problem is, for almost the entire 16 days, the wind is a mess. We’re looking at moderate to fresh cross-onshore breezes from the North, with swell mostly out of the NNE at a short, weak period. The combined energy starts at a weak 45 and climbs, but it’s all windswell junk. From the 15th of July right through to the 29th, the wave comment is “poor surf conditions” – everything is choppy and lumpy. The swell heights do get up there, from 6ft to 8ft, but with those onshore winds, it’s just a washing machine. For a break that’s exposed and often crowded, it’s a write-off for paddle surfing. Honestly, with the big swell and strong winds, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The first glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday, July 29th. The morning sees the wind finally swing around to a gentle cross-shore from the NE. The swell drops back to a manageable 5ft from the NNE, and the combined energy is a moderate 331. The wave comment is only “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions,” and the score is a 1/10. That’s not a “standout,” it’s just the only thing on the menu. The period is a poor 8 seconds, so it’s not going to be quality, but it will be cleaner than anything we’ve seen in the two weeks prior. The afternoon holds similar, with a 5ft swell and 284 energy. The water temp anomaly is average for that time of year (no data given), so nothing special there.

That’s the only window. Just a couple of sessions on the 29th where the wind lets up. After that, it’s back to cross-shore chop on the 30th. Save your energy for a better forecast.

Rusty.

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