Playa de Barrika Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s get straight into it.

Honestly, mate, the next couple of weeks at Playa de Barrika look pretty bleak for a proper surf. The water is a balmy 75°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year – a nice surprise if you're having a splash, but the waves just aren't cooperating.

There’s a big gap at the start with nothing worth paddling out for. From today, Friday the 14th, right through to Wednesday the 19th, it’s all tiny, weak, and messy. The swell is barely there, mostly under 2ft, with short periods and cross or cross-onshore winds ruining any chance of a shape.

The first real hint of life shows up on Thursday morning the 20th. It’s still small, only about 2ft from the NW, but it gets glassy with a glimmer of energy (143). After that, the swell tries to pick up around Friday the 21st with some 4ft NNW swell, but the wind is just not playing ball. It stays ordinary.

You’re looking at a long run of "poor surf conditions" and scores of zero, with only a couple of afternoons scraping a 1 out of 10 for being "surfable but very ordinary." The middle of the week from the 20th onward has a bit more energy in the water, with combined swell energy readings hitting three-digit numbers like 143 and 134, but it’s never really clean enough to get excited about.

The best bet in this whole 16-day window is probably Thursday the 27th of August. The morning sees a 5ft NW swell with a period of 9 seconds, but it’s crossed up (320). The afternoon, however, turns it on a bit: a 5ft NW swell with an offshore breeze blowing from the ENE at 9 mph. The energy is solid (264) and it’ll be clean. For a reef break that’s inconsistent and sheltered, this is your standout – but with crowds being possible here *sometimes*, don't expect it to be empty.

Later, on Friday the 28th, a big 7ft to 8ft NW groundswell rolls in with a period of 11 seconds. That’s strong energy – 884 and even 1302 – but the wind is howling from the WNW at 12-28 mph, making it an onshore mess. It’s a no-go for paddling. That kind of setup at a beach-and-reef spot like Barrika looks more interesting for kite surfing than a traditional paddle session.

The swell peaks on Saturday the 29th with an 12ft NNW swell at 14 seconds. That’s a lot of power (3891) – expert-only territory, and even then, the cross-onshore wind will chop it to pieces.

For the second week, honestly, there's no hidden gem. The conditions just don't line up. The swell is either too small, too short-period, or the wind destroys it.

So, if you’re desperate, Thursday the 27th afternoon is the one. Otherwise, keep an eye on the forecast – things might change.

Rusty.

Read more