Mundaka Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the Mundaka region over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – the next ten days or so are a real struggle. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with nothing but small, weak surf and poor conditions. The first week is basically a write-off. From the 8th right through to the 18th of August, the swell is tiny, mostly around 1.0 ft to 4 ft, and the period is all over the place – short, choppy stuff. The combined swell energy is weak, barely cracking 100 (mostly double-digit values like 18, 93, 106 – just not enough grunt). The winds are all over the shop too, mostly cross or cross-onshore, which is gonna leave it bumpy and messy. There’s a few glassy mornings, like the 11th and 12th, but with only 2 ft to 2 ft of swell and zero energy, you’re better off staying in bed. It’s a tough stretch.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until the morning of Wednesday the 19th of August. The wind goes dead calm – glassy conditions – and the swell bumps up to 4 ft from the N. The energy climbs a bit to 148, but it’s still pretty weak. The water temp is a warm 76°F, which is a solid 5° warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a treat. Still, the waves are just “surfable but very ordinary” – not the Mundaka magic we’re after. The afternoon of the 19th starts to show a pulse, with a 6 ft swell from the NNW and energy jumping to 439, but the wind goes cross-onshore and ruins the party.

The standout – and I mean the only real window to pay attention to – is the morning of Thursday the 20th of August. We’ve got a 6 ft swell rolling in from the NNW, with moderate energy at 412. The wind is light and cross-shore from the E, which should keep things relatively clean. Now, this is a solid wave height – over 5 ft – so it’s not for the groms or beginners. And with the period sitting at 8 seconds, it’s a short-period wind swell, not a long groundswell. Mundaka is a river mouth, so it can handle a bit of everything, but don’t expect those long, lined-up walls. This is a punchy, short-period wave that will be fast and critical. The water is still warm, but the crowds here are “often” around, so expect a few heads in the lineup. This is your best bet in the whole 16-day window, but it’s a one-morning gig.

After that, the 21st and 22nd drop right back down to nothing, with weak, choppy onshore slop. The 23rd teases a bit of 2 ft NW swell with glassy morning winds, but the energy is pitiful at 101. Honestly, it’s a pretty bleak outlook for Mundaka. If you’re a kite surfer, the afternoons of the 15th and 16th with 4 ft and 3 ft in cross-onshore winds might be more your speed than a paddle surfer’s. For the rest of us, keep your eyes on that Thursday morning the 20th. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only shot.

Rusty.

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