Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here.

We’ve got Playa Santa Catalina on the menu, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The good news is there’s almost always something rideable, but you’ll need to pick your moments. The first real taste of decent surf kicks off Monday afternoon.

The water’s a touch warmer than normal at 86°, so you can go with a spring suit or just boardshorts if you’re used to it.

We start Monday afternoon (August 10th) with a clean 2ft SSW groundswell pushing in with 12-second period. The combined swell energy is moderate at 245. The wind is a cross-offshore from the NE at 9 mph, so the waves will have some shape to them. It’s a good, mellow opener.

Tuesday morning (August 11th) looks even better. The swell drops slightly to 2ft, but the period stretches out to 14 seconds, giving it a bit more punch. Wind stays cross-off from the NNE at 9 mph, keeping it clean. A solid starter session.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday morning (August 12th) is the standout of this first week. We get that same 2ft, 16-second groundswell, but the wind goes glassy – a perfect N at 3 mph. The energy is ramping up too, with a moderate-to-strong reading of 407. The waves will be smooth and lined up. Get out there early before the afternoon sea breeze ruins it.

Thursday and Friday mornings (August 13th & 14th) keep the clean, cross-off conditions going with 3ft and 2ft of swell respectively, both with decent 14- and 18-second periods. The wind is light, so the surface will be good.

Then we get a real pulse. Saturday afternoon (August 15th) sees the swell building to 4ft from the SSW with a 16-second period. The combined energy jumps to a strong 691. And the wind turns cross-off from the WNW at 9 mph. This is the best of the whole window – expect very clean, punchy waves. The bigger swell and long period will make it more for the intermediate to advanced crew; it will be too much for beginners.

Sunday and Monday mornings (August 16th & 17th) offer clean waves in the 2ft-3ft range with offshore winds. The second week of the forecast, things taper off in size, but the quality remains for the early birds.

We see a lull in size around the 21st to 23rd, with swell dropping to 1ft-2ft, but the period stays surprisingly long, especially on the 23rd with 19-second intervals. The combined energy drops to weak-to-moderate levels (126-205). While the waves are small, the mornings with offshore wind will still offer a few clean, fun ones for a longboard or a fish. The 24th and 25th keep that theme going with 1ft SSW groundswell and clean morning conditions.

Right, that’s the picture. Get on it Wednesday morning and again that Saturday afternoon – those are your winners.

Rusty.

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