La Palue Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a 16-day look at the surf, and I gotta be straight with you – for a spot that’s usually a solid performer, this forecast is a bit of a heartbreaker. The first real chance at a wave doesn’t roll in until late in the window, and even then, it’s a mixed bag. Let’s walk through it.

The pattern starts with a whole lot of nothing. From Wednesday the 22nd of July all the way through to the end of the month, we’re looking at a long stretch of weak, short-period slop with mostly onshore or cross-shore winds. The swell is tiny – mostly below 2 ft – and the energy is pathetic, with combined energy readings barely cracking 40 (that’s weak). Wednesday morning the 22nd has a clean 1 ft WNW swell, but it’s a 10-second period and the wave comment is “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s about as generous as I can be. It’s not worth paddling out for.

Thursday the 23rd through Saturday the 26th see a slight bump in size, but the wind just wrecks it. By Sunday the 26th, the swell picks up to 6 ft to 7 ft from the WNW with moderate wave energy (340 to 554), but it’s all cross-onshore and lumpy. The wave comment is “poor surf conditions” across the board. That’s a no-go.

Monday the 27th shows a cleaner 5 ft WNW swell with a 9-second period, and the energy is solid at 395. The wind is light cross-onshore in the morning, but the wave comment is still “marginal surf forecast.” Tuesday the 28th morning has a clean 3 ft WNW swell with moderate energy (192), but it’s not enough to get excited about.

The real standout, the only one worth talking about, is Sunday the 2nd of August. That’s the day. The morning session is the pick of the entire window. We’ve got a 5 ft swell from the west, with a 9-second period and strong combined energy of 343. The wind is glassy – glassy, folks – from the SSW. That’s the magic word. The break is La Palue, an expert-level spot that’s exposed to the WSW, and this west swell is right in its wheelhouse. The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions,” and with that glass, it’s gonna be clean. Keep in mind, this is 8 days away, so it’s a promising long-range call, but we’ll need to watch it. The water temp is 65°, which is about average for this time of year.

Now, the rest of the second week is a bit of a letdown. Monday the 3rd of August has a 5 ft WSW swell, but the wind is cross-shore and the energy is moderate. Tuesday the 4th of August morning has a 6 ft west swell with a 10-second period and very strong energy (576), but the wind is cross-off from the SSE and the wave comment is “marginal.” It’s a tease. After that, the swell fades and the wind shifts back onshore.

So, the bottom line: if you’re an expert and you’ve got patience, circle Sunday the 2nd of August on your calendar. That’s your window. The rest of the 16 days is mostly a blank run with a lot of poor conditions. It’s a tough stretch, but it’s not unusual for this area to have a quiet spell. Forecasts can change, so keep your eyes peeled.

Rusty.

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