Playa de Barrika Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, mates. Rusty here, with a look at what’s coming down the line at Playa de Barrika. We’ve got a bit of a slow cooker of a forecast here, so don’t expect a full on feast every day.

The water is sitting at 72°F and feeling a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, which is a nice bonus if you’re paddling out in boardies.

Right now, there’s nothing doing. It’s quiet. The first bit of action shows up Monday the 7th, but honestly it's barely a ripple. You’ve got a 2ft NW groundswell with a long 15-second period and moderate energy (201) under glassy conditions in the morning. It's surfable, but only just. The afternoon swings to a clean 3ft NW swell with a solid 13-second period and moderate energy (319), but it’s not worth getting too excited about. Tuesday the 8th is a write-off, don't bother. Wednesday the 9th morning serves up 6ft NW swell with a short 9-second period and strong energy (470), but it's messy with cross-shore wind. The afternoon clears up with a 5ft NW swell, short period 9 seconds, but with strong energy (435) and a cross-offshore breeze making things clean. That’s a solid option for a Wednesday session.

Thursday the 10th brings a 4ft NNW groundswell with a 10-second period and moderate energy (333), perfectly glassy in the morning. The afternoon stays clean with offshore wind. It’s decent, but nothing standout.

Then we hit a patch of poor conditions from Friday the 11th right through Saturday the 12th with tiny, weak swells. Saturday afternoon does bring a weird 1ft WNW swell with a very long 17-second period and low energy (107), but it’s barely a bump.

The standout is Sunday the 13th. It’s the real highlight of this outlook. The morning sees 5ft NNW swell with a long 13-second period and strong energy (875) under glassy skies. The afternoon matches it with the same size and period, offshore wind, and strong energy (824). This is the day to circle. For a reef break like Playa de Barrika, that long period groundswell from NNW will produce some proper shaped, powerful lines. It’s a good size for experienced surfers, maybe pushing it for beginners at 5ft. It’s an inconsistent break, so you’ll have to be patient, but when a set comes through it’ll be worth the wait. Crowds can show up sometimes here, but with conditions this good, it might draw a few locals.

Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th drop back down to smaller, clean but unremarkable surf. Wednesday the 16th afternoon picks up again with a 5ft NW groundswell, 13-second period, strong energy (624) and clean offshore wind.

Thursday the 17th goes downhill again. Friday the 18th is a washout.

The second standout is on Saturday the 19th. This one’s further out, so treat it with a pinch of salt, but the numbers look tasty. Morning brings 6ft NNW groundswell with a solid 13-second period and very strong energy (965), staying clean. The afternoon holds at 5ft with a 12-second period and strong energy (784), also clean. If that holds, it’ll be another cracker day of lined-up reef waves, similar in character to the Sunday before.

The final days from the 20th to the 22nd are a mix of ordinary conditions, wind issues, and questionable tides, including a 7ft NNW swell on the 22nd that will be messy and only for the brave.

So, to wrap it up: your best bets are Sunday the 13th and, with a hopeful eye, Saturday the 19th. Playa de Barrika is a reef that likes a clean, long-period NW to NNW swell, and both those days deliver exactly that.

Rusty.

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