Playa de Traba Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break down what’s happening at Playa de Traba over the next couple of weeks. The water temps are sitting at about 63°F, which is a touch cooler than usual for this time of year, so you might want a thicker suit on the early sessions.

We’re starting off on Wednesday the 16th with a bit of a dud. Cross-shore wind at 16 mph and a cross-chop on a 6 ft northwest swell at 10 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 933 and the quality is just poor. Not one to get excited about.

Thursday the 17th doesn’t get much better. Morning has 6 ft from the northwest at the same 10-second period with cross-shore wind. The afternoon goes cross-onshore at 5 ft, and it’s even messier. Skip it.

Then Friday the 18th, the swell jumps up big. We’re looking at 10 ft to 12 ft from the north-northwest with a long 14-second period. That’s a very strong wave energy (3001 to 4460). The wind is cross-shore and the tide is favorable, but this is way too big for a beginner-friendly spot like Playa de Traba. For experts only, and the long period will make it dumpy and tough on a beach break.

Saturday the 19th backs off a little to around 7 ft in the morning with a cross-off breeze, giving clean conditions. The period stays long at 13 seconds, so the energy is still good (1493). The afternoon goes cross-shore with a chop on 6 ft. The morning is the better window, but still marginal.

Now, Sunday the 20th starts to get interesting. Morning has glassy-clean conditions with a gentle cross-off breeze and 5 ft northwest swell at 11 seconds. Clean and surfable, with moderate wave energy (686). The morning is the pick, as the afternoon gets a slight chop.

Monday the 21st is the standout for the whole run. Glassy conditions in the morning with 5 ft northwest swell at 12 seconds. The wind is totally calm – just 3 mph from the east-northeast. That’s as clean as it gets. The combined energy is moderate at 563, but the quality for the size is excellent. This is your best day for a fun, smooth session.

Tuesday the 22nd brings a weird one. Morning has a tiny 2 ft northwesterly groundswell but with a very long 19-second period. Long waits between sets, but the cross-off breeze keeps it clean. Perfect for a longboard. The afternoon jumps up to 6 ft from the west-northwest at 16 seconds, but the cross-shore wind picks up to 13 mph, putting a chop on it.

Wednesday the 23rd is another one for the experienced set. The morning is glassy with 7 ft west-northwest swell at 14 seconds, and the afternoon stays glassy with 6 ft from the same direction at 13 seconds. Both sessions are rated excellent for experienced surfers, with strong wave energy (1952 and 1366). The glass means clean faces, but the size and long period will make it powerful.

Thursday the 24th is a smaller day. Glassy morning with 4 ft northwest swell at 12 seconds. Light and clean. The afternoon turns onshore and goes marginal.

From Friday the 25th through the end of the month, it gets patchy. There are windows of clean-ish surf with light winds on the 25th morning (4 ft, 18-second period), Saturday the 26th morning (6 ft, 14 seconds), and Monday the 28th morning (3 ft, 11 seconds, glassy). But these are all rated marginal, with chop or tide issues. The 29th and 30th September see the swell pump again – 10 ft northwest on the 30th – but the wind is strong cross-shore at 16-22 mph, and it’s too big for this break anyway. October 1st finishes with a 6 ft north-northwest swell and a cross-off wind in the morning, then dropping off with poor conditions in the afternoon.

To sum it up: Monday the 21st morning is your golden window. Glassy, waist-to-chest high waves from the northwest with a nice 12-second period. Clean lines, no wind. That’s the day to paddle out.

For those wanting more size, Wednesday the 23rd morning and afternoon are the next best, but only if you’re comfortable with solid 7 ft, powerful surf and glassy faces.

There are some good days peppered in here, but a lot of cross-shore chop to sort through. The first few days are rough, the middle has gems, and the last week is a mix of small clean windows and bigger, blown-out swells.

Rusty.

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