La Barra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. We’re focusing on one spot that’s been lighting up the forecast: La Barra.

This is a river/jetty setup and it’s fairly consistent, so there’s plenty to talk about. The water’s a touch warmer than normal right now, sitting at a balmy 87°F, which is a degree or so above the average for this time of year – nice for a long session.

The overall pattern sees clean, glassy mornings offering the best chance all through the period, with the sea breeze kicking in most afternoons and wrecking things with a cross-onshore wind. The first standout of this run kicks off Tuesday morning, the 11th of August. We’ve got a clean, glassy start with a 3ft SSW groundswell pulsing in at a long 13 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (385), and with no wind and clear skies, the river mouth should be looking pristine. This is the kind of morning you set the alarm for.

The next real highlight is Friday morning, the 14th. Glassy conditions again, but the swell bumps up a notch to 3ft from the SSW, with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and La Barra’s river/jetty structure is the perfect home for it. The combined energy jumps to 598 (moderate), and it’s shaping up for very good surf.

If you can handle a bit more size, Saturday morning the 15th is the pick of the bunch. We’re looking at 4ft of SSW swell with that same long 16-second period. The combined energy hits 853 (moderate-to-strong), and with glassy conditions, this is about as good as it gets for intermediate crew. Anything over 5ft starts pushing beginner territory, but this is right in the sweet spot for a fun paddle.

After that, the run of mornings continues to deliver. Sunday the 16th, Monday the 17th, and Tuesday the 18th all offer clean, glassy starts with 3ft SSW swell, holding that long period. The 18th shows a combined energy of 640, which is solid. The afternoons are consistently blown out, so the call is simple: dawn patrol.

There’s a noticeable gap in the afternoons – don’t bother. It’s going to be choppy and unappealing from about midday onwards on most days. Stick to the mornings.

Looking further ahead, Wednesday the 19th morning brings a clean window with a cross-offshore breeze, offering 3ft of SSW swell. The wind is light, keeping things tidy. Then it’s another week of mostly good morning glass-offs, with pulses of swell holding around 2ft to 3ft. The 26th of August (Wednesday morning) stands out late in the run – glassy, with 2ft from the SW and a very long 16-second period, combined energy hitting 552. It’s a promising one, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it.

Crowds? They show up sometimes here, especially on the top mornings, so expect company if you’re heading out on the glassy dawn slots.

The bottom line: La Barra is looking very consistent for the next two and a half weeks. The mornings are the only game in town, but they’re a bloody good game. Tuesday the 11th, Friday the 14th, and Saturday the 15th are your standouts. Don’t sleep on them.

- Rusty

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