Rio Chico Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks at Rio Chico. It’s been a bit of a quiet stretch, so don’t expect much action for the first week and a half. We’re mostly looking at small, weak swell with cross-onshore winds making things messy. The water is real warm, about 79°, and that’s nearly 9° warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s like a bathtub out there.

For the first week, from Saturday the 1st right through to the morning of Thursday the 7th, the story is pretty flat. You’ll see tiny waves, mostly around 1 ft to 3 ft, but the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, and the combined energy is weak, hovering around 100 to 300. The morning of Thursday the 7th shows a little bump – a 3 ft swell from the SW with a long 16-second period, and the energy kicks up to 464, but it’s still called marginal. The wind is light and onshore, so it’s not clean. Friday the 7th afternoon is a bit better, with a 3 ft SW swell and a 16-second period, energy up to 537. Still, it’s only marginal. The light onshore wind means it’s blown out.

The next week, from Saturday the 8th through to Sunday the 16th, doesn’t get much better. The swell stays small, mostly 2 ft to 3 ft, and the wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore. The energy on the 14th of August Friday morning and afternoon finally gets some punch, with a 3 ft WSW swell, a long 18-second period, and energy reading 717 and 672. That’s the most interesting period of the whole window. The wind is light – still onshore – but it’s the biggest and most powerful swell we’ll see. The 15th of August Saturday morning also has a 3 ft WSW swell with a 16-second period and energy at 553. It’s still marginal, but it’s the closest we get to anything rideable.

To be honest, there’s no standout day here. The best bet is the morning of the 14th of August and the 15th of August, but even then, the wind is not ideal. The swell is coming from the SW to WSW, which is the optimum direction for this spot, but the period is long, so it’ll be a bit fat and sectiony at this point break. The energy is moderate to strong on those days, but the onshore/cross-onshore wind will keep it messy. Crowds are possible at Rio Chico, so if you’re desperate, you might share a few waves.

Overall, it’s a lean run. For a spot that’s this consistent, this is a quiet spell. Hang tight, the forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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