Playa de Barrika Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for Playa de Barrika over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – it's a pretty quiet stretch. We're looking at a reef break that's inconsistent and a bit sheltered, so the stars really gotta align to get anything worth paddling out for. Most of the time we're seeing tiny waves and poor conditions, so don't go getting your hopes up for anything epic.

The water is sitting at a warm 73°, which is a solid 6° warmer than what's usual for this time of year. That's a pretty big anomaly, so you'll be comfortable in a shorty or even boardshorts if you're tough.

The first few days? Honestly, forget it. From Monday the 6th through to the end of Sunday the 12th, we're looking at waves barely reaching 2 ft, mostly from the NW, with short periods under 10 seconds and combined wave energy struggling to get past 98. The wind is mostly cross-onshore or cross, so the surface is going to be bumpy and uninviting. It's all "poor surf conditions" across the board.

Then we get a tiny glimmer on Monday the 13th. The morning shows a slight uptick to 4 ft from the NW, with an 8-second period. The combined energy bumps up to a moderate 177. More importantly, the wind swings to a light cross-offshore from the NNE, keeping it clean. The report calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," which is about right. It’s small and the period is short, but it might be worth a look if you're desperate for a knee-high bump with no crowds to fight. By the afternoon, the wind shifts and the energy drops, so the window is tight.

After that, it gets really quiet again. From Tuesday the 14th through Friday the 17th, the swell drops back to 0.7 ft to 1 ft, with energy levels in the teens or low tens. Some mornings are glassy, but there's nothing to ride. Then, on Friday the 17th, the afternoon brings a jump to 5 ft from the NW, but the period is a terrible 7 seconds and the cross-onshore wind is up to 12 mph. Combined energy hits 226, but the wave quality is still poor.

Saturday the 18th stays messy with onshore winds, but Sunday the 19th is where things get interesting... but not in a good way for most of us. The swell jumps to 7 ft from the NW with an 8-second period and the combined energy rockets to 507 – that's strong wave energy. However, the wind is a solid 12 mph cross-onshore, making it choppy. At 7 ft, this is strictly for experts only. Beginners, stay well clear. The wind is going to make it a real battle.

Monday the 20th stays big at 5 ft to 5 ft, still with that cross-onshore wind and strong energy (314), but still not clean. The pattern fades out from the 21st with tiny, weak surf.

So what's the call? The single best option in this whole 16-day window is Monday morning, the 13th of July, at Playa de Barrika. The 4 ft NW swell with clean cross-offshore wind makes it the only real chance for a surfable wave. It won't be a classic, but it's your best bet. Don't expect much else.

Stay tuned, forecasts can change, but right now it’s a whole lot of sitting on the beach.

Rusty.

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