Playa Negra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Playa Negra over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid run of surf starting Monday the 17th. The water is sitting at a toasty 86°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a good 4° above average, so you can leave the steamer at home. The first day is the standout of the whole run. Monday morning at Playa Negra is seeing a clean 4ft swell from the SW with a long 14-second period, and the combined energy is a solid moderate 428. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NE, setting up nice lines. But the real magic is Monday afternoon: the wind goes glassy, the energy bumps up to 500, and the waves are just super clean. That’s your best bet for the entire forecast.

Tuesday the 18th is still fun, with a clean 3ft to 4ft SW swell, but the wind is a bit stronger cross-offshore in the morning. By Tuesday afternoon, we get a proper offshore breeze from the E at 9 mph, making for some nice, clean walls. Wednesday the 19th stays similar with 3ft SW swell and clean conditions both morning and afternoon, though the energy drops a little.

From Thursday the 20th through to Saturday the 23rd, the swell drops off noticeably. We’re looking at waves between 1ft and 2ft, and the energy dips into the double digits and low hundreds. Thursday afternoon and Friday get messy with cross-onshore wind, so not worth paddling out. Saturday morning the 22nd offers a brief clean-up with a gentle offshore and 2ft waves, but it’s small.

Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th see a slight bump in energy, with a longer period of 18-19 seconds, but the swell is still only 2ft to 2ft. The mornings are clean with offshore winds, but those long-period swells can turn a bit wonky at a beach setup. They’re better for the point at Playa Negra, so keep that in mind.

Now, the real second act kicks off on Thursday the 27th of August. The morning brings a pulse of 4ft from the SSW, but the period is a short 7 seconds, which is a bit junky and weak. The wind is clean offshore, though. The next big standout is Saturday the 29th of August. We’ve got a solid 4ft to 4ft SW groundswell with a 16-17 second period, and the energy is cranking at 916. The wind is light offshore, and the conditions are clean all day. That’s a serious session.

And then we top it off on Sunday the 30th of August. The morning is firing with 5ft of SW swell at 16 seconds, and the energy is pumping at 1470. That’s a strong, powerful swell, and with a gentle offshore breeze from the E, the waves will be lined up and clean. This is getting into expert territory though – 5ft with that kind of energy is no joke for beginners. The next morning on Monday the 31st is still pumping at 5ft, and Tuesday the 1st of September follows with another clean morning of 4ft.

So, if you’ve got to pick your moments, Monday the 17th afternoon is the glassy gem of the first week, and Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are the big, powerful standouts in the second week. Expect crowds at Playa Negra sometimes, especially on those good days.

Stay stoked, catch you in the water.

Rusty

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