Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s talk Playa Santa Catalina in the sizes you’re more used to.

First off, the water temperature is running about 86°F, a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice surprise.

Saturday the 18th starts us off small. We’re talking 3ft from the SSW, with a long 13-second period. Combined swell energy is 330 – moderate, but the juice is there. Wind is light offshore out of the north at 10 km/h, so it’s glassy and clean. This is a loggers’ delight. In the afternoon, the wind drops to dead calm, zero, and the swell is 3ft with the same 13-second, 391 energy. It’s about as clean as you could hope for, just small.

Sunday the 19th: morning is a small 2ft, 14-second pulse. Combined energy 357. Cross-off, clean. The afternoon gets a cross-onshore, and it turns bumpy. Monday the 20th is another clean morning – 3ft, 12 seconds, 339 energy, offshore wind. Tuesday the 21st: 2ft morning, 14 seconds, 288 energy, again clean. The trend is set: small but clean.

Things shift Saturday the 25th. We’re looking at 2ft, but with a proper 21-second period and 586 energy. That’s moderate-to-strong. Wind is 20 km/h cross-off from the ENE – still clean, really nice. The afternoon glass off: 2ft, 20-second swell, 452 energy. That’s a cracking afternoon window.

Sunday the 26th morning: 3ft, 19 seconds, 545 energy, nice north-easterly offshore. Monday the 27th: glassy conditions with 3ft at 16 seconds, but the energy jumps to 738 – strong. That’s going to feel bigger and better.

But Thursday 30th July is my standout. The morning is glassy and clear. 4ft of SSW groundswell at 15 seconds. Combined energy hits 784 – that’s proper grunt. If you’re experienced, you will love this. Crowds are a possibility; it’s a known spot. This is the session.

Friday the 31st morning is smaller with 3ft at 13 seconds – 374 energy – but still clean and rideable. The afternoon comes back nicely: 3ft at 13 seconds, 333 energy, with an offshore breeze. Solid.

August 1st dips a little: 3ft at 12 seconds, 259 energy, offshore in the morning. But August 2nd shows a long-period 20-second swell at 2ft in the morning, 447 energy, and glassy. The afternoon sees a jump to 3ft at 19 seconds and 898 energy – strong, but the onshore wind will chop it up. The morning is the time.

So, from a small but clean start, we build to a powerful, glassy session on Thursday, July 30th. That’s the pick of the forecast for the more experienced. The point will handle that 15-second period beautifully. If you can make that session, do it.

Rusty.

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