La Santa - El Quemao Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at the surf on offer for the next couple of weeks.

First up, we’ve got a classic spot on the cards: La Santa - El Quemao. This is an expert reef break that’s known for being consistent, and it’s wide open to a WNW swell. The water temperature is sitting at 73°, which is about 1° above the norm for this time of year – nothing wild, just your average warm summer water.

The honest truth is, the outlook is a tough one for the first week. From Saturday, 1st August right through to Sunday, 10th August, the conditions are persistently poor. We’re looking at a long run of cross-onshore winds, mostly from the NNE at 15 to 22 mph, which is going to keep the surface lumpy and choppy. The swell energy is weak to moderate during this stretch, staying in the 150 to 369 range, and the swell periods are short, under 8 seconds, so there’s no real push or shape to the waves. It’s a frustrating wait.

The pattern finally shifts as we move into the second week. On the morning of Thursday, 13th August, we start to see a real change. The swell from the NNE builds to 7 ft, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 574 – that’s a solid step up. The wind is still cross-onshore from the NNE at 15 mph, so it’s not perfect, but the extra size is there. Remember, at over 7 ft, this is getting into expert territory for this shallow reef.

The real standout, and the best we’ve got in the whole window, is Saturday, 15th August. The morning brings a solid 10 ft NNE swell with a 9-second period – that’s pushing strong energy at 1184. The wind is still a cross-onshore NNE at 22 mph, which is a shame, but the sheer power and size of that swell will be something to behold. This is strictly for the experts only; anything over 8 ft is no place for the faint of heart. The afternoon eases back to 8 ft, still with strong energy, but the wind picks up a touch.

Unfortunately, the wind never swings offshore for this entire forecast, so we never get that glassy, clean perfection we dream of. The constant cross-onshore flow will mean the surface is always a bit lumpy, but for the big-swell hunters, that 15th of August is the one to circle. It’s a long way out, so don’t hold me to it, but right now, that’s the only window that has the size and power to make the trip worthwhile.

Stay safe out there, and don’t get caught inside on the big ones.

Rusty.

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