La Palue Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. The swell is around, but it’s nearly always coming with a nasty onshore or cross-onshore wind, which means bumpy, blown-out conditions. It’s one of those stretches where you’ll be watching the ocean from the car park more than you’ll be in it.

We’ve got one spot on the cards for the whole 16-day run: La Palue. This is an expert wave, so if you’re not confident and comfortable in serious water, this isn’t your spot. The water temperature is sitting at 66°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the wetsuit might feel a little more comfortable than usual.

The outlook kicks off on Wednesday the 5th of August. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the WNW, but the wind is howling from the WNW at 12 mph, right on it. The energy is moderate at 487, but the conditions are just poor. Not worth getting wet.

Thursday the 6th is smaller, down to 3ft in the morning and dropping to 3ft in the afternoon. Winds are cross-onshore and the period is short, just 6 to 7 seconds. The energy drops right off. It’s messy and uninspiring.

Friday the 7th through to Sunday the 9th is basically flat and hopeless. Swell sizes bottom out around 1.0ft to 2ft with barely any energy (27 to 95). Even though we get a clean window with offshore easterly winds on Friday morning and Saturday morning, there’s nothing to ride.

There is a brief glimmer on Tuesday the 11th of August. The morning sees a tiny 2ft swell from the WNW, but the wind goes glassy – an ENE breeze at just 3 mph. It’s clean, but the energy is weak at 57. It’s surfable, but only just. If you’re desperate for a glide on a longboard, you could scratch a few closeouts. The crowd factor here is “often,” so expect company even for scraps.

From Wednesday the 12th through Friday the 14th, the swell builds again. We’re looking at 3ft to 5ft from the west and northwest, with moderate energy climbing from 146 up to 473. But the wind? Onshore or cross-onshore the whole time. It’s going to be bumpy and lumpy. The period sits between 8 and 10 seconds, so it’s a windswell mix – not the clean groundswell we’d want.

Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th are more of the same – onshore winds, lumpy conditions, and a messy 2ft to 6ft swell. By Monday the 17th, the wind gets nasty with a fresh 22 mph southerly, making the ocean a washing machine. The swell is 5ft, but it’s only for experts, and even then, you’d be fighting a battle.

The final days, from Tuesday the 19th to Thursday the 20th, fade out with small, short-period junk – 2ft to 3ft and a period as low as 5 seconds. The wind is still onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy is weak to moderate.

Honestly, there are no standouts in this entire 16-day run. The only remotely rideable moment is that glassy morning on the 11th, but the swell is tiny. For the rest, the wind is just too messy. If you’re into kite surfing, the stronger onshore winds and bumpy swell from the 16th to the 18th might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a tough run. Keep an eye on the forecasts – things can change.

Rusty.

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