Reef la Maddalenetta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at the bones of this forecast for the one spot we've got to work with. It's a quiet picture, so I'll lay it out straight.

We're looking at Reef la Maddalenetta, and I gotta be honest with you, the outlook is a tough one. The data shows a whole lot of 'poor surf conditions' stamped across the board, with scores that are flat zeros. The first hint of any real action doesn't show up until late in the run. For the first ten days or so, from Tuesday the 4th to the end of the following week, we're looking at a serious surf drought. Most days there's barely a ripple, with combined energy hanging around the single digits or flat zero. There's a few mornings with glassy conditions, like Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th, but the swell is tiny – we're talking 0.7 ft to 1 ft. There's just no energy to work with.

The first real blip of interest comes on Friday the 7th of August. The morning swell bumps up to 3 ft from the WNW, with a combined energy of 65 (still weak), but the wind is a light cross-onshore, so it's not ideal. The afternoon is a bit bigger at 3 ft from the WNW, and the energy ticks into the moderate range at 112, but it's choppy with a 12 mph cross-onshore wind. It's a messy prospect.

The best looking window, and the only thing that gets my blood pumping a little, is right at the tail end of the forecast. On Wednesday the 19th of August, we see a bit of a pulse. The morning is glassy, with a 3 ft swell from the W, period of 5 seconds. That's a short period, so it'll be a bit bumpy, but the energy is climbing to 48. The real standout, though, is the afternoon of that same day. The swell jumps to 7 ft from the NW, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy rockets up to 543 – that's strong energy. The wind is onshore, which is a shame, but it's the biggest push of the entire forecast. For experienced surfers, this is the only session that looks like it could have some proper power. That 7 ft is over the 5 ft mark, so it's a step up from beginner territory, and with the onshore wind, it's going to be a battle. Reef la Maddalenetta is a reef break that rarely breaks, so when it does get a pulse like this, it's a very notable event.

The water temperature is 81°F, which is a massive 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That's very unusual, so you'll be surfing in a warm bath, but that's about the only thing that's comfortable.

So, to sum it up: the first 15 days are a write-off for decent surf. The only real light at the end of the tunnel is the afternoon of Wednesday the 19th of August. Keep an eye on that one, but don't hold your breath for the rest of it.

Rusty.

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