La Paloma Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, Rusty here again. Let's break down this La Paloma forecast in feet and miles per hour for those who think in those numbers.

Honestly, it’s a pretty quiet couple of weeks ahead. You’ve got a long stretch of small, unexciting surf before anything with any punch shows up. For the first twelve days or so, expect mostly knee-to-waist high stuff and a whole lot of "meh" conditions. There's a big gap right from the start where you're not missing much.

Wednesday, August 5th starts us off, but it's a weak start. The morning brings tiny 2ft waves out of the northwest, and while the wind is glassy – which is a huge plus for a clean surface – the energy is low (92). It’s surfable, but just barely. The water temp is 69°F, a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but nothing crazy.

We then cruise through a bunch of similar days. Thursday, August 6th and Friday, August 7th give you 3ft and 2ft waves, but the wind is cross or cross-offshore, and the swell periods are short – around 8 seconds – meaning the waves will be weak and lack any drive. The combined energy drops well below 100 for most of these sessions, telling you there's just no power in the water.

There are a few mornings with glassy conditions – like Sunday, August 9th (2ft NW) and Monday, August 10th (2ft NW) – but the swell height is so marginal, you’d be scratching for anything rideable. The energy is still well under 100. The conditions are there, but the ocean just isn't playing ball.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday, August 11th. Tuesday morning has 3ft swell from the NNW, a 10-second period, and glassy conditions. The energy finally climbs to 174, which is a moderate amount. This is the pick of the first week, but it’s still just a small, clean wave for a longboard or a fun shape. Don't expect anything hollow.

After that, it’s back to tiny glassy mornings and onshore afternoons. The energy stays low until we get to the second week.

Now, here’s the interesting part, but it's a long way off. On Monday, August 17th in the afternoon, we see a jump: 6ft from the NNW with an 11-second period. That energy rockets up to 815 – that's a strong, solid pulse. But the wind is onshore from the northwest, so it will likely be a bit bumpy and choppy. Still, this is the only real swell of substance in the entire 16-day window. It’s marginal because of the wind, but it’s the most size we'll see. This is one for the guys who don't mind a little chop.

Tuesday, August 18th holds some of that energy, with 5ft in the morning and 4ft in the afternoon, both from the NNW. The wind is light cross-shore, which is better than onshore. The energy is still high (419 in the morning). For the experienced crew, this Tuesday in the second week is probably the best bet for a proper session, even if it isn't glassy perfection.

La Paloma is an exposed, very consistent spot, and it’s a beach setup. Because this bigger swell from the 17th and 18th is a longer-period groundswell (11 seconds), it might actually shape up better here than at a typical beach break, but it won't be a classic point-break groomer. If the wind was offshore, we'd be talking about a real standout. As it is, it's just the only thing on the menu with any size.

So, the bottom line: the first 12 days are for the die-hards on small-wave gear. The only true standout window is Monday, August 17th afternoon through Tuesday, August 18th, where we finally get some real energy (815 and 419). Keep your expectations in check, and if that later swell cleans up, it’ll be worth the wait.

Rusty.

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