Playa de Gros Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Playa de Gros.

Honestly, the next couple of weeks are a bit of a grind. We’ve got a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions, with hardly anything to get the heart racing. The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until late in the game.

The water temperature is sitting at 75°, which is a solid 5° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s pretty unusual and means the water is feeling more like a bath than the Atlantic.

We kick off on Wednesday, August 5th, with some rain showers and a tiny 2ft NW swell, but the wind is onshore and the energy is weak (48). It’s a write-off. This theme continues day after day. Thursday the 6th shows a bit more energy (126) with a 3ft NW swell, but the wind is cross-onshore, chopping it all up. Friday the 7th morning is the first time we see glassy conditions, but the swell is a pathetic 3ft with a short period of 7 seconds and energy is only 60. It’s surfable, but barely, and it’s not worth a paddle out.

The weekend of the 9th and 10th is a total bust with weak swell and poor wind. The early part of the following week, the 11th and 12th, sees a bit more energy (162 on Tuesday morning) with a 3ft NW swell, but the wind is cross or cross-on, and it’s all marked as poor surf. The whole middle of the month is a dead zone – from the 9th through to the 18th, it’s a long, frustrating gap of tiny, weak, or badly wind-affected waves.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The week of August 19th shows a change. On Wednesday the 19th morning, we see a 4ft NW swell with moderate energy (260) and light cross-onshore wind. It’s still a bit messy, but it’s a sign of life. The real standout, however, is the following morning.

Thursday, August 20th morning is the one to circle. This is the best on offer in the entire 16-day window. We’re looking at a clean 4ft NW swell, with that glassy, offshore wind from the WNW at just 3 mph. The combined energy is solid (263), and the conditions are described as "good surf". The period is a decent 9 seconds, so it’ll have some push. This is a long-range call, so it’s a bit less certain, but if it lines up, the waves will be clean and fun. The afternoon does get a bit cross-onshore, so get out there early.

For the rest of the time, it’s a waiting game. The swell direction is NW, which is the optimum for the spot, so we’re just waiting for the wind to play ball. Given the long flat spell, it’s typical for the area to have these blank runs, but when it turns on, Playa de Gros can be a proper beginner-friendly wave, though it does get crowded often.

Stay hopeful, the glassy morning on the 20th could be a beauty.

Rusty.

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