La Torche Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, it’s a bit of a slow burner for La Torche. The entire first week and a half is pretty ordinary. From Monday the 3rd right through to the morning of Saturday the 15th, we’ve got a long dry spell with nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, the swell is either tiny or messy, and the combined energy is weak (mostly under 200). It’s a real flat patch.

But hang in there, because things start to wake up towards the weekend of the 16th and 17th.

The first real glimmer comes on Saturday morning, the 15th. It’s still not a classic, but at least the wind goes glassy with an easterly breeze at just 3 mph. The swell is 4ft from the west at 6 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (132). It’s surfable, but the period is short, so it won’t have much push. It’s a chance to get wet, but that’s about it.

The standout windows are Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th. Sunday morning the 16th brings a solid 8ft swell from the WNW with a clean offshore easterly wind at 16 mph. The combined energy jumps to a strong 960. The period is 8 seconds, so it’s not a long-period groundswell, but that offshore wind will groom it well. This is a bigger swell, well over 8ft, so it’s strictly for experienced surfers only. The afternoon cleans up more with a light cross-shore breeze and the energy climbing to 1020. Still 8ft, but the wind is lighter.

Then Monday morning the 17th – that’s the one to circle. The swell drops a touch to 7ft from the WNW, with a clean offshore breeze from the ENE at 9 mph. The combined energy is still solid at 545. The comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” and with gentle offshore wind and clean lines, this is your best bet of the whole 16 days. The swell is still big for intermediates, but it’s the cleanest, most powerful window we’ve got.

The water temperature is sitting at 64°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit.

After Monday, the size drops back down on the 18th, and the wind turns cross-on again, so it’s back to average.

So, to sum it up: don’t bother with the first week and a half. The real action is Sunday the 16th for the big stuff, and Monday morning the 17th for the pick of the cleanest, biggest swell. That’s your window.

- Rusty

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