Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, let’s break down this next couple of weeks.

We’ve only got one break in the picture: Playa Santa Catalina. It’s a point that’s very consistent and loves a SSW swell. The pattern is a classic slow-burner – a nice long-period groundswell hits right off the bat, then just fades out gently into the first week of August. The real sweet spot is the opening weekend.

We start on Friday the 24th of July. Morning sees some clean, fun waves. Swell is from the SSW around 2ft, with a very long 24-second period. That’s deep ocean energy coming through. Combined swell energy is a solid 557. The wind is a light cross-off from the NE, so the surface will be glassy and the waves will be holding their shape. Water temp is about normal for this time of year.

Saturday morning the 25th of July keeps it clean with clear skies and that light NE cross-off breeze. Swell is still 2ft from the SSW, period a touch down to 21 seconds. Combined energy sits at 589. This point is exposed to the SSW, so it’s handling it nicely. A long-period swell like this will wrap in nicely on a point. Keep in mind that crowds are possible here sometimes.

Sunday the 26th of July morning is the pick of the bunch. Glassy conditions with a light N wind. Swell edges up to 3ft from the SSW, still with a long 19-second period. Combined energy is 538. It’s clean, it’s glassy, and it’s got that long-period push. That’s the session you want. Afternoons get a bit messy with onshore breezes and storm risks.

Then Tuesday the 28th of July morning fires up. Swell jumps to 4ft from the SSW, period around 18 seconds, and combined energy hits 995 – strong energy. Light cross-off from the NE, so it’s clean. This is for advanced surfers; beginners will find it too big. A proper session.

Wednesday the 29th of July morning stays similar at 4ft, 16-second period, and 788 energy with light cross-off wind. Still good.

From the 30th of July, the swell settles to around 3ft and the period starts dropping to 14 and then 13 seconds. Mornings still offer some clean windows, especially on the 30th and 31st with glassy conditions, but the energy is slipping down into the 360 to 280 range.

Then we hit a flat spell. From the 1st of August through the 6th of August, swell is only 2ft to 3ft, periods drop under 13 seconds, and combined energy is below 220 most days. Winds are a mix – some clean mornings, but afternoons are choppy with onshore or cross-onshore winds. It’s pretty ordinary out there.

On Friday the 7th of August morning, there’s a little bump with 3ft from the SSW, 13-second period, and energy back up to 415. Clean with a light NE cross-off. Then Saturday the 8th of August morning shows similar at 3ft, 14 seconds, and 457 energy with light cross-off wind. Not a classic standout, but a sign that the ocean is starting to stir again.

If I were you, I’d be on the water Sunday morning the 26th of July for those glassy conditions, and then again Tuesday morning the 28th of July for the bigger, cleaner swell. The rest is just filler.

Rusty

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