La Barra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, the swell window is looking pretty grim for La Barra over the next 16 days. We’ve got a 16-day stretch ahead but honestly, every single session is flagged as poor surf conditions. There’s a run of nothing rideable from the start, and it doesn’t let up. We’re talking a full two-week-plus gap with no worthwhile waves – that’s rough for this area.

The first real recommendation would be Sunday morning, August 23rd. The swell is a weak 3ft from the north, with a period of just 10 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 267. The water is sitting at 76°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Wind is a light cross-onshore from the NNE at 6 mph, making for small wind ripples. It’s not looking good – the wave comment says it all: poor surf conditions. The afternoon sees a bit more size, 4ft from the NNW with a 14-second period, but it’s still marginal. That’s a long period swell, but with the wind messing it up, it’s not going to do much at a beach and reef setup.

Monday the 24th has a bit more swell, 6ft from the NNW in the morning, but the period drops to 12 seconds and the wind is a moderate cross-onshore at 12 mph. The energy is moderate (901), but it’s choppy and messy. The afternoon is similar. This is all between the 5ft and 8ft mark, so maybe too big for beginners, but the quality is so bad it doesn’t matter.

The rest of the week and into September is a broken record. The swell bounces between 3ft and 7ft, all from the north or north-northeast, with periods mostly under 10 seconds. The wind is relentless from the north or NNE, always cross-onshore, ranging from 9 mph to 19 mph. The energy numbers are all over the place, from a weak 48 up to 901, but it’s all poor surf. The wave comment never changes.

From Friday the 28th through the weekend, the swell gets a bit bigger, hitting 7ft to 7ft, but it’s a short-period, wind-affected mess. The period is 7 to 8 seconds, and the wind is a fresh or moderate cross-onshore. It’s lumpy, choppy, and just not worth the paddle.

The first week of September is more of the same: 4ft to 6ft, short periods, and constant cross-onshore wind. There’s no standout. The best you could hope for is a window with a lighter breeze, but even then, the swell direction is north-northeast, which isn’t the optimum for this spot (WNW is the best).

For a break that’s very consistent, seeing a blank run like this is tough. It’s a beach and reef setup, so when the wind is this bad, it’s more interesting for kites than paddles. Don’t hold your breath; the forecast can change, but right now, it’s a no-go.

Rusty.

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