Rio Chico Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Rio Chico. It’s a very consistent, advanced-level point break that’s exposed to the SW, and the optimum swell direction is also SW, which is a perfect match.

Right off the bat, the water here is sitting at 78°, which is a whopping 9° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s incredibly unusual – it feels more like a mid-summer bath than a regular August morning.

The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, honestly. We’re seeing surf in the water pretty much every day, but conditions are often a challenge. The first few days, from Wednesday the 5th through to the weekend, things are marginal. There’s small SW swell around 2 ft to 3 ft on offer, with a light cross-onshore wind that’ll keep the surface bumpy. The wave energy is moderate, bouncing around 155 to 546 (moderate wave energy), but the “poor surf conditions” label is a bit of a damper. Not a lot to get excited about early on.

There’s a bit of a lull in quality, but around the 14th and 15th of August, the swell starts to lift. Friday the 14th morning sees a 4 ft SW swell coming in at a long 17-second period – proper groundswell – and the combined energy jumps strongly to 877 (moderate wave energy). The wind is light and onshore in the morning, so while it’s not perfect, the size and period are there. This longer-period stuff really suits a point break like Rio Chico; it’ll wrap in with some nice lines.

The standout window, though, is looking like Thursday the 20th. We’ve got a 5 ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and the combined wave energy is reading a solid 1060 to 1074 (very strong wave energy). That’s the biggest energy we see in the whole 16-day stretch. There is a gentle cross-onshore breeze in the morning which will put a little texture on the face, but the amount of push and the long period means proper, powerful waves. This is the best on offer at this spot for the foreseeable future – a true highlight for the confident advanced surfer. Remember, anything over 5 ft at Rio Chico is starting to get serious, and with that 5 ft and long period, it’s strictly for the experienced crew.

Crowds can be a factor at Rio Chico sometimes, so you might have some company.

Between now and that late-August window, there are plenty of days (like the 10th, 11th, and 12th) that will have waves, but the quality just isn’t there – mostly small wind-affected slop. The forecast tends to improve, so keep an eye on it, but for now, pencil in that Thursday the 20th as the one to point the car towards.

Stay wet.
Rusty.

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