La Barra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for the local stretch.

Well, it’s a tough one to call. The whole 16-day window is looking pretty grim for a proper paddle session. There’s a massive gap of surf that just isn’t worth your time. We’re talking from today, the 8th of August, all the way through to the 21st of August where the conditions are just plain poor. It’s a long, dry spell. The wind is a constant problem – cross-on and howling out of the north at 12-15 mph, chopping everything up. The swell is short-period windswell, mostly around 5 ft to 7 ft, but it’s messy and weak. The combined energy is moderate at best, hitting 543 during the 15th of August, but that’s the peak of the ugliness, not a ray of hope.

The only break to look at is La Barra (beach and reef). It’s very consistent and exposed, but the wind is just wrong for it. The optimum swell direction is from the WNW, and we’re getting hammered by NNE windswell. It’s a total mismatch. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

Now, there’s a tiny flicker of light on the 22nd of August – Saturday morning. Finally, the wind backs off a little to a gentle breeze from the NE, giving us a cross-shore flow. The swell drops to 4 ft from the north, with a period of 9 seconds, so it’s a bit more lined up. The combined energy is still only moderate (298), but it’s the best the whole run has to offer. It’s only a marginal call, but if you’re desperate, that’s your window. Don’t expect much, it’s a long way out and the forecast is uncertain.

To be honest, for most of the next two weeks, it looks more like a kitesurf setup than a surf setup. The wind is strong and cross-on, the waves are choppy – it’s not what we’re after. Don’t hold your breath. The blank run is normal for this area when the wind doesn’t play ball. It’ll turn around eventually.

Rusty.

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