Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Playa Santa Catalina.

Overall, it’s a mixed bag through the window. We’ve got a decent stretch of consistent SSW swell, but the wind is a real problem for most of the afternoons. The real standout windows are the mornings, especially when the wind goes either offshore or glassy. The first few days are a write-off, but from August 7th onwards, we start seeing some proper potential.

The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 86°F, so it’s a nice bath.

Let’s break it down. The first few days are a struggle. Friday July 31st is a no-go with that afternoon thunderstorm and onshore wind. Saturday August 1st morning sees a little pulse of 3ft SSW swell, and the wind is offshore from the north, making it clean. It’s got moderate energy, but the waves are small. The afternoon goes to rubbish again. Sunday the 2nd, Monday the 3rd, and Tuesday the 4th are all similar – small, mostly messy, with only brief windows of clean conditions.

The real action starts to build on August 7th. Friday morning the 7th is our first real standout. We’ve got 3ft of SSW swell, a clean offshore wind from the NNE, and the energy jumps up to a strong 505. The period is a solid 13 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell that will wrap into this point setup nicely. The crowd is *sometimes* a factor here, so it could be busy, but it’s a very consistent break, so there will be waves.

Saturday August 8th morning is another cracker. Slightly smaller at 3ft, but the wind is offshore from the north again, and the energy is even higher at 514. The period stretches to 16 seconds, which is a very long-period groundswell. That means the sets will be well-spaced and powerful, but it will be a bit more lined up and straight at a beach break – here at this point break, it should be a thing of beauty. This is the best on offer.

The days that follow hold some fun waves. The mornings on the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th all offer clean conditions with good wind and manageable 2ft to 3ft SSW swell. The energy is moderate to strong, with the 10th morning being glassy and the 13th morning having a nice 3ft at 14 seconds. The 14th and 15th both have solid mornings as well, with the 15th having a very long 17-second period on a 2ft swell.

The bottom line: if you can get out on the mornings of the 7th, 8th, and 9th of August, you’ll be smiling. The 7th and 8th are the standouts. The afternoons are almost always a bust due to the onshore wind and thunderstorms, so plan for dawn patrol.

Rusty.

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