La Cicer Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a hard look at what's on the table for our local waters over the next couple of weeks. I'll be straight with you; it's a tough stretch ahead.

The entire 16-day window is dominated by onshore and cross-onshore winds that are going to keep things messy. The waves themselves are mostly short-period, choppy affairs, not the kind of clean lines we pray for. The combined wave energy fluctuates, from a middling (645) early on, dropping to weaker readings in the (270 to 150) range later, so the ocean isn't exactly firing with much conviction. The sole break on offer is La Cicer, and it’s a beginner-friendly spot that is very consistent, but that consistency is mostly delivering poor surface conditions.

Let's break down the dates, because you'll need to pick your moments carefully. The first few days, from Saturday the 29th of August through to the afternoon of Thursday the 3rd of September, are all a write-off. You're looking at moderate onshore breezes, cross-onshore wind, and swell around 4ft to 8ft. The swell is short-period (7-9 seconds) making for a bumpy, uninviting surface. The combined energy is moderate, reaching a peak of (750) on the afternoon of the 2nd of September, but it's accompanied by an onshore wind, so the quality is poor. After that, from the 4th of September through to the afternoon of the 12th of September, the pattern persists. We get small, short-period swell (4ft to 6ft) and moderate to gentle onshore breezes, meaning the surface is still choppy.

The only glimmer of a chance shows up on two specific mornings. On Monday the 7th of September, the morning session has light cross-onshore wind with small wind ripples, a combined energy of (368) and 6ft swell. It’s marginal, but it’s the best looking part of that week. Then, on Wednesday the 9th of September, the morning again offers a light cross-onshore breeze with swell at 6ft and a combined energy of (369). These are the only two windows where the wind isn't actively ruining the shape, described as "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions." You will have to deal with the it being short-period (7-8 seconds) and a bit weak, but the light wind that morning is the only time the ocean is likely to look halfway rideable.

The final day of the forecast, Sunday the 13th of September, is a weird one. The swell drops to 3ft but the period jumps to 13 seconds, a proper groundswell. The combined energy is still (270) which is moderate, and the wind is onshore. That long period will be tricky for this beach break, likely making it close out and straighten up, and with the onshore wind, it’s a no-go. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.

In summary, for a surfer looking for anything clean, the pickings are slim. If you absolutely need a paddle, the mornings of the 7th and 9th of September are your best bets due to the light wind, but keep expectations on the floor. This is a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions, so don’t be disheartened if you decide to sit this one out.

Rusty.

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