La Palue Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a seat. There’s a long stretch of quiet ahead, but if you’re patient, a proper reward is waiting at the end.

Right now, the first surfable movement is a tiny whisper. On Monday afternoon, July 20th, La Palue is seeing a weak 1-foot swell from the WNW, with a period of 11 seconds, but the energy is pitiful (29). The wind is a cross-off 35 km/h, so it’s messy. The water is sitting at 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Honestly, it’s not worth paddling out for.

The next few days barely improve. Tuesday morning on July 21st has a 2-foot swell and a 10-second period, but the wind is still a problem. The energy is laughable (52). Wednesday morning, July 22nd, is the same tiny size with a slight air, but the combined energy is still low (41). Not one of these mornings is a standout.

Then we hit a big gap. From Thursday, July 23rd, all the way through to Tuesday, July 28th, the surf is poor. The wind is either cross-on or blowing hard, and the swell is mostly small or short-period junk. The best you’ll see in that stretch is a 5-foot WNW swell on Monday morning, July 27th, but the energy is moderate (354) and the wind is cross, making it bumpy. It’s just not worth it.

Now, a glimmer appears. Wednesday morning, July 29th, brings a 4-foot NW swell with a 9-second period. The energy is strong (403), and the wind is a gentle cross-off, so it’s clean. This is the first moment that looks surfable, but the swell direction is a bit off from the optimum WSW. Still, it’s a good call for a quiet session.

But the real prize is hiding a week and a half away. On Friday morning, July 31st, everything lines up. La Palue gets a solid 7-foot swell from the WNW, with an 8-second period, and the energy is very strong (627). The wind is glassy – 5 km/h from the WSW, with a slight air. That’s a proper morning. The crowd potential is there (often), but for a clean, glassy 7-foot swell at an expert spot, it’s worth the company. The water is still about average for the time of year.

After that, the swell holds size through the weekend, but the wind turns cross-on and onshore, ruining the shape. Saturday morning, August 1st, has an 8-foot swell (986 energy) but the wind is messy. It’s big and powerful, but only for experts. The following Monday and Tuesday, August 3rd and 4th, have a 5-foot and 7-foot swell, but the wind is onshore or cross-on, so it’s choppy.

So, to sum it up: it’s a slow start, a long dry spell, and then one stand-out morning on Friday, July 31st. The 7-foot glassy swell is the best on offer, and it’s a proper reward for the wait. After that, the size stays but the quality drops. Get in early on that Friday, and you’ll have a good one.

Rusty.

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