Popoyo 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.

Straight up, this is a tough run. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf conditions ahead, with a big gap in quality action. The first real glimmer of anything worthwhile doesn’t show up until Monday the 4th of August, and even then it’s only a marginal window. For the first four days, from Friday the 31st of July through to Sunday the 3rd of August, the wind is just too strong out of the ENE, hitting 25 mph, and that’s making it brutal to paddle into anything. The swell is tiny, mostly around 2 ft to 3 ft from the SSW or SW, with a period around 14 seconds, but the combined energy is weak (338 down to 208). The wave quality is just poor.

Monday 3rd August starts to show a flicker of hope. In the morning at Popoyo, we’ve got a 3 ft SW swell with a period of 14 seconds, a moderate breeze from the ENE, and the wave state is clean. The combined energy is still moderate (289), but the surf is only marginal, so it’s a maybe, not a go.

Tuesday 4th August is the standout of the whole forecast. In the early morning, Popoyo gets a 2 ft SW swell, period of 13 seconds, with a moderate offshore breeze from the NE. The combined energy is moderate (216), and the guidance says to expect good surf. The wind is offshore, so the face will be clean. It’s small, but it’s the best we’ll see for a while.

After that, we go back into a long, bleak stretch. From Tuesday afternoon right through to Saturday the 15th of August, it’s a grind. The wind is relentless, mostly ENE at 22 to 28 mph, and the swell stays small, between 1 ft and 3 ft. The combined energy jumps up a bit later—you’ll see some moderate numbers, like 513 on the 7th August, and 596 on the 8th of August, but the wind is too strong and cross-off for it to be any good. The waves are just too blown out or hard to paddle into.

Friday 7th August afternoon has a 2 ft SW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate (513), but it’s a strong breeze and offshore, making it a battle to get out. The period is long, which means it could be a bit straight at a beach break, but Popoyo is a reef, so it might offer a better shape. Still, the wind is a killer.

Saturday 8th August morning has a 3 ft SSW swell, period 16 seconds, with combined energy at 596, but again, strong cross-off wind. Clean, but cross-off is never as good as pure offshore.

The only real standout, the one you’d point the car at, is Tuesday 4th August in the morning at Popoyo. It’s a reef break, very consistent, and the moderate offshore wind will give you clean, small lines. The swell is from the SW, which is the optimum direction for this spot. The crowds are sometimes an issue, so you might have a few people out, but it’s the best quality on offer. It’s a small wave, so beginners could have a go, but it’s really for intermediates. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.

The rest of the 16 days, honestly, is a write-off. We’ve got a big gap of no good surf from the 4th afternoon all the way through to the 15th. It’s one of those flat spells that happen. The forecasts can always change, so keep an eye on it, but as it stands, you’re looking at a long wait.

Rusty.

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