La Barra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into the outlook for La Barra.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough 16-day run. We’re looking at a long stretch of nothing special, with the first real window of opportunity holding off until the very end. The swell energy is mostly weak, with a few short-lived pulses that don’t quite line up with the wind. It’s the kind of forecast that tests your patience. The water temp is sitting at 52°, which is pretty much bang on average for the time of year, so no nasty surprises there.

The first half of the period is a write-off. From Thursday the 9th right through to mid-week, we’ve got a mix of cross-shore and onshore winds, low energy, and very ordinary conditions. The swell is tiny, generally under 3.3ft, with a combined energy that rarely gets out of the two-digit range (80-93). It’s surfable in the sense that you can get wet, but you’ll be working hard for a knee-high dribbler. By Sunday the 12th, we see a slight bump in period to 13 seconds, but the wind is on it, chopping it up. Honestly, most of this first week is better spent on the couch or the kite board – the wind is up, and the waves are just messy.

There is a brief moment of clarity on Monday the 13th, just for the afternoon. It goes glassy, with a clean 2ft swell from the ESE at 11 seconds. The energy is moderate (163), but the size is tiny. It’s a window, but a small one.

We then hit a major dead zone. From Tuesday the 15th all the way through to Wednesday the 23rd, there’s almost nothing. The swell drops to a mere 0.3ft to 1.3ft, the combined energy falls into the single digits (2-6), and the wind is a constant problem. It’s a long, dry spell. You’d be searching for a ripple.

Now, here’s the one standout. Mark your calendar for Thursday the 24th of July. The morning is looking glassy, with a 5.2ft swell from the south at 7 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (268). It’s not a groundswell – that short period means it’ll be a bit mushy and close together, but the wind is absolutely perfect. That 5.2ft is going to be fun for an intermediate, though it’s probably a bit much for a beginner. The following afternoon holds a similar 5.6ft, but the wind swings onshore, so don’t sleep on that Thursday morning window. It’s the only real highlight in a bleak forecast. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so if you’re keen, get out early.

That’s it for this one. A long wait for a brief moment of magic.

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