Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Playa Santa Catalina (point break) over the next couple of weeks.

We’re kicking off with a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s some real gems hiding in there if you’re patient. For the first few days, the swell is small but the winds are kind. Saturday morning the 22nd serves up a clean 3ft SSW groundswell with a 10-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNE. It’s not huge, but the wave energy is moderate (244), and it’ll be tidy. By the afternoon, it goes glassy with a bit more energy (289) – proper small-wave fun on a point. Keep an eye on the sky though, there’s a risk of thunderstorms around.

Sunday the 23rd drops right off to 1ft, with a very long 19-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, but tiny. The morning is clean with a light offshore, but the afternoon turns onshore and messy. Not worth the paddle-out unless you’re on a log.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are similar – tiny 1ft to 2ft, periods dropping from 18 to 16 seconds. The mornings offer clean, glassy or offshore conditions, but the afternoons are cross-onshore and choppy. Weak energy (around 148 to 230), so it’s very marginal.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 28th morning, a pulse of short-period swell rolls in at 5ft from the WSW, period only 6 seconds. That’s a short, choppy swell but the energy jumps to a moderate 428. The wind is glassy from the NNE. It’ll be a bit lumpy but rideable for a point break. Not a standout, but a change-up.

The real standout? Saturday the 29th morning. The swell builds to 3ft from the SSW, period 16 seconds, and the energy surges to a strong 515 – that’s proper juice. Glassy conditions, slight air. This is the pick of the outlook: clean, good groundswell energy, and the point should be running nicely. Expect a few crowds as it’s known to get busy, but the quality will be worth it.

Sunday the 30th morning is another strong option: 4ft SSW swell, 15-second period, energy at 553, glassy. Again, it’s a beauty. Afternoons get onshore and messy, so mornings are the go.

Into the first week of September, the swell stays in the 2ft to 3ft range, with periods holding around 12 to 18 seconds. The mornings consistently offer clean, glassy or offshore conditions. Wednesday the 2nd morning is clean with a 2ft SSW swell and a light offshore breeze. Thursday the 3rd morning sees the energy climb back to 427 with a 2ft SSW groundswell, 17 seconds, and a clean offshore.

Friday the 4th morning is another cracker: 3ft SSW, 18-second period, energy at 514, clean cross-off breeze. And then Saturday the 5th morning delivers glassy conditions, 3ft SSW, 16 seconds, and energy at 570. That’s a strong finish to the outlook.

Overall, the mornings are where it’s at. The afternoons nearly all turn onshore or get stormy, so plan for dawn sessions. The standout days are Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th, and Friday 4th to Saturday 5th – all offering solid groundswell energy, clean winds, and good quality on the point. Crowds are likely on the better days, but that’s the price you pay for waves like that.

Water temp is unremarkable – about average for the time of year, so don’t bother with a thick wetsuit.

Rusty.

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