Plentzia Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you about the Basque Coast waves.

First off, it’s looking pretty bleak for a good stretch. There’s nothing worth chasing until Thursday the 20th of August, and even that is just a tease. The whole run kicks off with tiny, weak, and choppy conditions at Plentzia. That sheltered spot rarely breaks to begin with, so when it does, you need everything to line up. Right now, it’s not even close.

The water is sitting at 75°F around the start, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. Not that you’ll be in it much with surf this poor.

We’ve got a real gap here – from the 15th all the way through to the morning of Thursday the 20th – with nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, the wind is messy, and the energy in the water is weak. Honestly, it’s more of a kite surfing setup with this wind and small surf than anything for a traditional paddle surfer.

Thursday the 20th of August finally shows a pulse of life. Mornings will see NE winds blowing offshore, keeping things clean. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the NW with a solid 11-second period. That’s a groundswell, and the combined energy hits a moderate 158. It’s surfable, but still very ordinary. Not the day to get excited.

Now, Friday the 21st of August is where it’s at. That is the standout window. Morning brings cleaner lines with a 5ft NW swell at an 11-second period. The combined energy jumps to 533 – strong to very strong energy – and the wind stays light and offshore from the ENE. This is the best surf on offer for the whole outlook. Afternoon holds at 5ft with a little less energy, but still excellent conditions. For a spot that rarely breaks, this is a special chance to get some proper waves at Plentzia. The crowd profile here is listed as "sometimes," so you might have company if the word gets out.

Saturday the 22nd backs off a bit with a 3ft NW swell and a shorter 9-second period. The energy drops to 179. It’s clean but nothing special. After that, we slide back into a long run of poor or ordinary conditions straight through to the 30th.

There is a flicker of hope around Tuesday the 25th with a glassy morning, a 10-second 3ft swell from the NW, and a moderate 148 energy reading. That’s a passable session if you’re desperate, but not a standout.

The 26th of August morning also looks interesting – glassy again, with a 2ft swell but a long 13-second period, bumping the energy to 221. The long period means it will break cleaner and have more push, but it’s small. The wind goes dirty in the afternoon, so get out early if you’re tempted.

The 27th morning is glassy again with a 4ft NW groundswell at 11 seconds. Energy is a solid 287. That’s another morning worth setting an alarm for, but the onshore wind kicks up by the afternoon and ruins it.

That’s about the size of it. A week of nothing, one standout Friday, and then a few clean but small mornings. It’s a waiting game.

Rusty out.

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