Luz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s headed our way.

It’s going to be a bit of a mixed bag over the next sixteen days. We’ve got some punchy swell coming through, but it’s not all smooth sailing. The first real action starts Thursday, July 16th, and while there’s energy in the water, the conditions are a bit rough. The best day to really get excited about is Saturday, July 18th, but we’ll walk through it all.

The first surf we see is on Thursday, July 16th. Luz (sandbar) is showing a clean 3ft wave from the ESE, but it’s coming with a cross-offshore wind and the water is feeling much colder than normal, a massive 3° colder than usual for this time of year. The swell energy is moderate (354), but the period is a mediocre 10 seconds. It’s surfable, but it’s not one to write home about. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a stronger offshore wind, and the swell jumps to 5ft from the NE, but the period drops to a short, bumpy 6 seconds. The combined energy is still moderate (384), but it’s a messy, short-period deal.

Friday, July 17th, keeps things ticking over. Morning sees a 6ft NE swell, but the wind is cross-offshore and the energy is moderate (433). The afternoon is the better of the two, with a clean 6ft NE swell, a solid offshore wind, and a moderate 8-second period. The energy is picking up (509), and it’s a fun, surfable wave.

Saturday, July 18th, is the standout of the whole forecast. The morning kicks off with a 8ft NE swell – that’s getting into the expert zone, so not for the groms. The offshore wind is cross-off, but the period is a short 8 seconds so it’ll be a bit walled up at a beach break like this. The real story is the afternoon: 7ft from the ENE, with a good offshore wind, and the combined energy is a solid 563. It’s shaping up to be the best session of the window – solid, clean, and powerful. Get out there if you’ve got the skills.

Sunday, July 19th, is a step down. The swell hangs around 7ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon, but the cross-offshore wind is a bit weaker, and the energy is dropping (997 and 445). It’s still rideable, but it’s not as clean as Saturday.

Monday, July 20th, starts with a beautiful, glassy morning. A 5ft ENE swell with no wind at all – that’s a rare treat. The energy is moderate (331), and it’ll be as clean as a whistle. The afternoon gets a bit bumpy with a cross-offshore wind, but the morning is the pick.

Tuesday, July 21st, has a decent morning: 6ft from the NE with a light cross-offshore breeze and moderate energy (700). The afternoon goes flat with a cross-onshore wind and the swell drops to 4ft.

From Wednesday, July 22nd, things start to fade. We get a couple of glassy mornings with small 3ft waves, but it’s weak. Then from Thursday, July 23rd, through to the end of the forecast on Friday, July 31st, it’s pretty much a write-off. The swell drops below 3ft, winds turn onshore or are just messy, and the energy is weak (often under 100). There’s a gap of about 8 days with no real recommendable surf. The only tiny blip is Monday, July 27th, which has a 5ft NE swell, but the wind is cross-off and the conditions are labelled as poor – it’s not worth the paddle.

So, the call is clear: if you’ve got any time, make Saturday, July 18th, your priority. The afternoon session at Luz looks the goods. After that, it’s a long wait for the next proper swell.

Rusty.

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