La Yerbabuena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for La Yerbabuena over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead. The swell just isn’t showing up with any real muscle, and the wind is working against us most days. We’re looking at a real dry spell here, with no decent surf on offer for the first 12 days. From Thursday the 23rd of July right through to Monday the 3rd of August, it’s just a parade of tiny, weak waves and poor conditions. The energy in the water is pathetic, with combined swell readings rarely crawling out of the double digits – you’re looking at numbers like 42 (weak) and 64 (still weak) on the best of those days, and that’s being generous. The wind is mostly cross-onshore, chopping it up, and the swell height is barely a ripple, mostly between 0.7ft and 3ft with a short, weak period around 6 seconds. There’s nothing to get excited about.

Now, we finally get a little flicker of hope on Tuesday the 4th of August. The morning session shows a clean, glassy start with a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNW. The swell is still small, only 2ft out of the west, but the period is a weak 7 seconds and the combined energy is just 66 (weak). The report calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," and honestly, that’s about right. It’s not a standout, but after over a week of nothing, it’s the first thing that’s even rideable. Don’t expect any power, and the crowds at La Yerbabuena could be a factor later – this spot can get busy. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing weird to report there.

Then we slide into a bit of a lull again. Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th of August offer a small uptick with light winds and some clean conditions on the Thursday morning, but the swell is still tiny and weak. The standout moment, if you can call it that, is the Thursday morning of the 6th. We’ve got 3ft swell from the west, a gentle cross-offshore breeze, clean conditions, and the combined energy finally nudges up to 87 (still weak). It’s the best of a bad bunch, but it’s still a very average day. The period is a bit better at 11 seconds, suggesting a little more shape, but it’s a long period for a weak, small swell – it might break a bit straight on the beach. Don’t expect any barrels.

So, to sum it up: the first 12 days are a total write-off. The best you’re looking at is a couple of clean, small days on the 4th and the 6th of August. If you’re desperate, the Thursday morning of the 6th is the pick of the lot, but keep your expectations on the floor. Otherwise, it’s a case of waiting for the next change in the weather pattern.

Rusty.

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