Playa de Barrika Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. I’ve had a good look at the charts for Playa de Barrika, and the honest truth is, the next two weeks look pretty bleak for a proper paddle. We’ve got a solid run of small, weak conditions and not a single standout session that’s going to get your heart racing. The combined energy across the entire 16-day forecast is very low, rarely getting above triple digits, and usually sitting in the weak range (between 10 and 101). The water temperature is sitting at 73°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing while you’re sitting there waiting.

The first 12 days or so are a real struggle. From Thursday, July 30th, right through to the morning of Tuesday, August 11th, every single forecast window is marked as “poor surf conditions.” The swell is tiny, mostly under 2ft, and the period is short, often around 5 to 8 seconds. That’s just windswell, not groundswell. It’s weak, with combined energy sometimes dropping as low as 9. There’s not enough to push a log around, let alone a shortboard. The winds are a mixed bag, with some glassy moments on Saturday morning, August 1st, and Sunday morning, August 2nd, but with waves that size it doesn’t matter how clean it is – there’s just nothing to surf.

Things try to flicker a little life around Tuesday, August 11th. The afternoon sees a combined energy of 101 (moderate) with a 4ft swell from the north, but it’s still a short 6-second period. The wind is cross-off from the NE, which will keep it clean. But even then, the data says “poor surf conditions.” It’s just not coming together. The next day, Wednesday, August 12th, is the best of a bad bunch with offshore winds from the East and NE, 4ft swell again, and clean conditions. The energy is at 95. But again, the short period (6 seconds) makes it feel weak and disorganized. That’s groundswell territory, but it’s not.

The stand-out window, if you can call it that, is the afternoon of Tuesday, August 11th, and the morning of Wednesday, August 12th. The swell is a little over 3ft, the wind is offshore, and the combined energy just creeps into the moderate range. For Playa de Barrika, a sheltered reef that’s inconsistent and rarely breaking, this is about as good as it’s going to get in the forecast. The break is a reef, so that longer period (even if it’s only 6 seconds) isn’t as important, but a 4ft wave with a 6-second period is going to be a bit on the fat side. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have a few locals out, but it won’t be a zoo. The optimum swell direction from the guidance is NW, and we’re getting a north swell, so it’s close enough to work.

The last few days, from August 13th into the 14th, the swell drops right back off again. The morning of August 14th has a 11-second period, which is a long-period groundswell, but it’s only 2ft and the wind is cross-on. That’s a tease, not a surf.

So, the honest truth is, there’s no epic surf on offer. The best you get is a couple of windows around the 11th and 12th of August where the conditions are just barely passable. For a beginner, it’s fine, but if you’re looking for a proper wave, you’re out of luck. This is a blank run for the area, and it’s pretty normal for this time of year – the forecasts can change, but right now, don’t plan your week around it.

Rusty.

Read more