Playa de Ereaga Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, listen up. Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. Honestly, looking at the next two weeks, it’s a pretty grim picture for the Basque coast. We’ve got a real problem on our hands with a 16-day window that’s almost completely flat and gutless. The first solid recommendation doesn’t even show up until Friday the 21st of August, so, settle in for a long stretch of waiting.

The whole period is dominated by small, weak swell. The combined energy of the swells is mostly in the low double digits, often sitting under 100 (e.g., 78, 47, 44, 8), which is basically nothing. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there, but it won’t be the temperature that’s the problem.

Our only real option is Playa de Ereaga. It’s a sheltered beginner spot that rarely breaks, and that’s exactly the problem. The optimum swell direction is NW, and the swell we do see is mostly from the NNW or NW, so that’s on the right track, but the size is just pathetic. For the first few days, from Sunday the 16th through to Thursday the 20th, it’s all under 3 ft, with periods between 4 and 8 seconds. That’s junk. The wind is glassy at times, which is a tease, but there’s no energy to back it up.

The first whisper of anything happens on Friday the 21st of August. The morning shows a 4 ft NW swell with an 11-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 413. That’s moderate energy, and the period is solid, but the wind is a light cross-on from the NE. It’s a “marginal” call, and honestly, with the wind direction, it’s going to be messy. Not worth getting excited about.

Saturday the 22nd of August morning is the closest we get to a “standout.” The swell drops to 3 ft from the NW at 9 seconds, but the wind goes glassy. The energy is 155. It’s surfable but very ordinary. If you’re desperate, you might get a few knee-high little waves that are clean. Crowds are often a problem here, so you’ll likely have company for those tiny shoulders.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The swell drops right off again, with energy below 100, and the wind picks up from the west and northwest, turning it into a choppy mess. The end of the run on Sunday the 30th of August shows a 4 ft NW swell with 9-second period and energy of 300, but the wind is straight onshore and cross-on, ruining any chance of a decent wave. For a beach break like this, with that wind and small, weak swell, it’s honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The bottom line is there’s no good surf on offer in the 16-day window. This is a blank run, and it’s more normal for this area given the time of year. Don’t hold your breath; forecasts can change, but this one is looking pretty locked in for a flat spell.

Rusty.

Read more