Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, this is Rusty. Let’s look at what’s shaping up for Playa Santa Catalina. This is a point break, very consistent, and exposed to the SSW swell. The water is running a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 86°, so it’s a bit more tropical than usual.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but it’s worth being patient. The first real glimmer comes on Wednesday the 5th. The morning session offers a small 2ft SSW swell, but the wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE, keeping things clean. It’s nothing special, but it’s surfable. The afternoon gets messy with onshore wind, so that morning window is the one. The combined energy is weak (138).

Thursday the 6th is a write-off with poor conditions and cross-shore wind. Friday the 7th morning picks up a bit with that same 2ft SSW swell and a cleaner cross-off breeze from the NE. The energy is starting to build (318).

Now, the standout so far is Saturday the 8th. The morning session is glassy, with a light N wind, and the swell has bumped up to a clean 3ft from the SSW (516 energy). It’s looking very good. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze and a 3ft swell (468 energy). This is a solid day for a point break.

Sunday the 9th morning is also a good call. The wind is a moderate offshore from the NNE at 12 mph, blowing clean over a 3ft SSW swell (439 energy). The afternoon turns to rain and cross-shore wind, so hit it early.

From Monday the 10th through to the end of the first week, the pattern holds with small, clean conditions in the mornings. The swell hovers around 2ft to 3ft, with light offshore or cross-off winds. The energy fluctuates between 230 and 416. Afternoons are generally a gamble with onshore or cross-onshore breezes rolling in.

Looking at the second week, the best bet is Saturday the 15th. The morning looks very good, with a light offshore N wind, glassy conditions, and a 3ft SSW swell (599 energy). That’s a strong contender for the best session of the whole forecast. The following Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th also have glassy morning windows with 3ft to 3ft swells, though the energy is a bit lower.

Keep in mind that this is a point break, and the longer period swells (12-18 seconds) we see in the forecast will bring in proper groundswell energy. That means better shaped waves and longer lulls between sets, making it easier to get out the back. The occasional afternoon storm risk is the main thing to dodge.

Overall, the best on offer is the 8th of August, with the 15th of August running a close second. Get out there for the glassy mornings.

Rusty.

Read more