Lajinha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, gather 'round. Rusty here, and I've got the skinny on Lajinha for the next couple of weeks. Let's be straight with each other – it's a tough stretch. This is a consistent reef break, an advanced wave for sure, and it's exposed to the east, which is the sort of direction the guidance says it likes. But for the bulk of this forecast, the wind is just a constant cross-shore mess, and the wave quality is taking a real hit.

We kick off on Saturday the 25th of July, and from the get-go it's a battle. A 4 ft swell from the ESE with a short 7-second period, combined energy sitting at a weak 153... and the wind is a moderate cross-shore. The wave comment says it all: "poor surf conditions." This pattern sticks around for days. Through all of the 26th, the 27th, all the way until the end of July, we keep seeing similar numbers. The swell bumps up a bit, dips down, but the cross-shore wind from the SE just won't let up. The water temp is a pleasant 80°, and that anomaly is only 0.7°, so it's pretty average for the time of year, but you'll be chewing on the paddle out more than enjoying it.

There's a little flicker of something on Friday the 31st of July, with the morning showing a 4 ft swell from the ESE at 7 seconds and a combined energy of 211. It's rated as "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions" – so it's the best of a bad lot, but that's not saying much. The wind is only a gentle cross-shore, so it'd be slightly less lumpy. Don't go planning your day around it.

Then, to be honest, the outlook gets worse before it gets, well, still not great. By the 1st of August, that swell picks up to 5 ft, and the energy hits 249, but we've got a moderate cross-shore and a risk of thunderstorms. On Monday the 3rd of August, the swell jumps to 6 ft with a strong energy reading of 509, but it's a cross-onshore wind, making it choppy and ugly. This cross-onshore/choppy combo is a theme for the first part of August, and then we get into a stretch from the 5th to the 8th of August where the wind is a "Fresh breeze" every session – that's 22 mph gusts – just keeping everything blown out and lumpy. The swell size gets bigger, up to 6 ft on the 8th of August with an 11-second period, and the energy is pumping at 851, but it's still "fresh cross-shore with lumpy cross-chop."

The only real standout, and I mean the *only* one worth a mention, is that last entry on Sunday the 9th of August. There's a punchy 8 ft swell from the ESE with a 10-second period. The combined energy is a massive 1047 – that's some serious power. But, and it's a big but, it's still a "fresh breeze" at 19 mph from the SE, keeping it cross-shore and lumpy. It gets a marginal rating, so if you're an absolute expert who can handle a fight and a bit of chop on a 8 ft wave, that morning might offer some power. For the rest of us, it's a kite-surfing sort of setup with those strong side-winds and chunky, poorly-shaped peaks. A long period swell like that 10-second one is better suited to a point or a reef, but with that wind, Lajinha isn't going to show its best face.

To sum it up, there’s basically a long, dry spell for clean surfing here. The one day with a shot is the 31st of July morning, and the real power day on the 9th of August, but both are compromised. It's a tough run, but the forecasts can change. Keep an eye on it.

Stay loose.
Rusty.

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