La Pepita (Mar del Plata) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you—this outlook for La Pepita (Mar del Plata) is a bit of a sad story for the next week and a half. We’re lookin’ at a whole lotta nothin’ for days on end, and the few flickers of hope only come in the second week. So, let’s break it down, but don’t expect to be waxing up your board just yet.

From Friday the 24th right through to Monday the 3rd of August, it’s pretty much a write-off. There’s a long, dry gap of over a week where the surf is just poor. The swell is small, the wind is messy, and the energy is weak. On Friday the 24th, we’ve got a tiny 2ft southerly swell with a 12-second period, but a northerly wind at 12 mph is blowin’ cross, making it choppy and uninviting. The combined swell energy is a measly 135 – that’s weak, mate. Saturday and Sunday are no better, with the same small dribble and more cross-wind. It’s just not worth paddlin’ out.

Then on Tuesday the 28th, we get a little glimmer. The morning shows a 3ft SSW swell with a 9-second period, and the wind is off-shore from the west at 9 mph. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild. The combined energy is 173 – still weak, but the surf is just barely surfable. It’s clean, but the waves are ordinary. That’s the best you’ll see for a while, and it’s not sayin’ much.

The real standout, and the only one worth gettin’ excited about, comes on Sunday the 2nd of August. The morning delivers a 6ft easterly swell with an 8-second period – that’s short-period, so it’ll be a bit straight and dumpy, but the energy is moderate at 539. The wind is off-shore from the SSW at 9 mph, so it’s glassy clean. This is the best wave of the whole forecast, with clean conditions and a decent size that’s still good for intermediates. The break is fairly consistent, but crowds are often a thing here, so expect some company. The swell direction is from the east, which is a good match for the break’s optimum from the ESE, just a bit off. It’s a solid, fun wave, but don’t expect it to hold up into the afternoon when the wind shifts.

After that, Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th are hammered by strong onshore winds from the ENE, blowin’ 19 mph to 34 mph, and the swell is over 6ft but blown out. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. The energy is strong, with values around 700, but the wind is trash.

Towards the end of the run, Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th of August show some promise. The morning of the 6th has a 4ft ESE swell with a 12-second period, light off-shore wind from the NW at 6 mph, and a combined energy of 503. The surf is clean and fun, but it’s not a standout compared to the 2nd. Still, if you missed the Sunday, this is a decent backup.

Overall, if you’re a surfer in Mar del Plata, the 2nd of August is your day. The rest is a long, flat wait. Keep your eyes on the forecasts, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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