Matanzas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks. Honestly, the first week is a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s some real gold later on if you’ve got the patience.

We’re kickin’ off this Sunday morning, the 19th of July, with a solid little window. The swell is a clean 5ft out of the west, with a nice 11-second period giving it some proper push. The energy is moderate (724), and with a light cross-offshore breeze from the SE, it’s gonna be clean. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing wild there. This is a real good time to get out – the sets will have some shape.

Sunday afternoon fades a bit as the wind swings onshore, so don’t expect much.

Monday the 20th has a bit of wind, but it’s offshore in the afternoon with a 3ft west swell, so it’ll be clean but small. The energy drops to 338. It’s rideable, but nothing to write home about.

Tuesday, the 21st, is a write-off. The wind is howling at 31 mph from the north-northeast, and the swell drops to 2ft. Forget it.

Now, Wednesday the 22nd morning is where things get interesting – but with a big caveat. We’ve got an 8ft swell from the west-northwest, energy is strong (1709), and the period is 11 seconds. This is powerful, but it’s up there for size. This is expert-only territory. If you’re not solid on a reef, stay out. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but that’s a lot of water moving.

Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th are a bit of a lull, but hold on…

The standout is Friday the 24th morning. This is the one. The swell is 7ft from the west, 10-second period, and the wind is absolutely glassy. I mean, dead flat calm. Energy is 955. The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” and I’m telling you, this is it. The sets will be clean, hollow, and the jellyfish will be the only thing bumping into you. This is the best morning of the whole outlook. Get on it.

Saturday the 25th is smaller, with a messy cross-shore wind, and the swell drops to 4ft. Sunday the 26th has a cleaner, longer-period swell (13-16 seconds) from the west-southwest, but it’s only 3ft at best. Still, the energy is decent (678) and it’s clean. Worth a paddle if you’re desperate.

Now, for the second week, we’ve got a big one on Monday the 27th morning. A 7ft west-northwest swell, energy hits 1589, and it’s clean with a light offshore. This is another one for the experienced crew. It’s not quite as big as Wednesday the 22nd, but it’s still a proper swell. The wind is better here.

The rest of that week is a bit of a mess with onshore winds and chop. Tuesday the 28th is a no-go.

The final true standout is on the 31st of July, Friday morning. Glassy conditions again, with a 3ft west swell. It’s small, but it’s clean as a whistle. Energy is 311. Then Friday afternoon, the swell stays 3ft but shifts to the west-southwest with a 15-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell. Energy jumps to 605. This will be super clean on the reef, but at that size, it’ll be a bit walled. Still, a very nice afternoon session.

The last few days of the first week of August have a 6ft west swell, but the wind is a bit onshore or cross-off, so it’s not the same quality as the 24th or the 27th.

In summary: The best on offer is Friday the 24th morning with 7ft glassy west swell, and the second best is Monday the 27th morning with a 7ft west-northwest swell. The 31st of July is a nice, clean, smaller option. The rest is either too windy, too small, or too big for the average punter.

Stay safe out there, and don’t be a hero on the big days.

Rusty

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