Playa Negra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Playa Negra over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but it’s not all bad. The first few days are small, with a clean 3ft SW swell on Saturday morning, but the wind is a cross-off from the ENE at 16 mph, and the water’s sitting at a warm 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The wave energy is moderate (265). Saturday afternoon turns to a light cross-on from the SW, making it a bit messy. Sunday morning drops to 2ft SW, still clean with a NE breeze, but the energy drops to 212. Not worth getting excited about yet.

Monday morning on the 3rd of August is where things start to look up. We’ve got 3ft SW swell with a 14-second period, clean conditions with a light ENE breeze, and the energy jumps to 371. It’s still small, but the quality is there. Tuesday morning is similar, 2ft SW, clean, with a light NE wind. The energy is 233. Nothing cranking, but surfable.

Wednesday morning the 5th, we get a tiny 2ft SW swell, but the wind goes offshore from the ESE at just 3 mph, making it clean. Energy is 123. Thursday morning the 6th is glassy with a 2ft SW swell and 14-second period – clean and calm, but the energy is only 125.

Now, the standout windows start showing up. Friday the 7th of August, we get a 2ft SW swell, but check this out: the period jumps to 18 seconds, so it’s proper groundswell, and the energy is 420. The wind is cross-off from the ENE in the morning, then goes offshore from the E in the afternoon. This is a long-period swell, so it’ll wrap nicely into the point and reef sections at Playa Negra, giving clean, lined-up waves. It’s not big, but the quality will be there.

Saturday the 8th of August is the real highlight. Morning brings 3ft SSW swell, period 16 seconds, and a solid offshore wind from the ENE at 13 mph. The energy is 580. Afternoon gets even better: 4ft SW swell, offshore from the ENE at 6 mph, with the energy hitting 614. This is the best of the whole run – clean, offshore, and a decent push of swell. It’s not huge, but for Playa Negra, this is prime.

Sunday the 9th is still good, with 3ft SW swell and an offshore ENE wind in the morning, energy 407. Monday the 10th holds 2ft SW with offshore E wind, energy 295. Tuesday the 11th sees the afternoons go glassy, with 3ft SW swell and 14-second period, energy 304 – that’s tidy.

The second week is a bit more mixed. Wednesday the 12th has a clean 2ft SW swell, with offshore wind in the afternoon. Energy 322. There’s a bit of a lull on Thursday the 13th, with small 1ft to 2ft SW swells, but still clean. Friday the 14th of August gets another big spike: 4ft SW swell, 18-second period, offshore wind from the E at 13 mph, and the energy is 788 – strong. That’s a serious long-period groundswell, and it’ll be clean and powerful. Saturday the 15th holds 4ft SW swell, but the morning wind is a fresh ENE at 19 mph, which is cross-off, so it’ll be bumpy. The afternoon is better, with offshore wind and energy at 666. Sunday the 16th, we get a glassy afternoon with 3ft SW swell and 14-second period, energy 408.

Best bet: Saturday the 8th of August, morning and afternoon. Offshore winds, clean, 4ft SW swell, and solid energy. The Friday the 14th afternoon is also a standout, with that 4ft SW groundswell and offshore breeze. The long-period swells are best for the point and reef sections here, so stick to those.

Oh, and the water’s running about 2° warmer than usual – a touch warmer than normal, so no need for a thick suit.

Rusty.

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