Salgema Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s going on down at Salgema. It’s a tough outlook for the next couple of weeks, to be honest. The swell is mostly onshore, the period is short, and the energy is just not doing us any favours.

Right from the start on Saturday July 25th, we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the SE, with a short period of 7 seconds and a light breeze blowing straight onshore. The energy is weak (55). It’s pretty much a flat, bumpy mess. That same pattern of small, onshore, short-period swell sticks around for the next few days. Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are both in the same boat – 2ft to 3ft, onshore wind, no quality. The combined energy does climb a little to 114 on Monday morning, but it’s still all onshore and short period, so it’s not doing anything for us.

We get a bit of a tease on Tuesday the 28th. The swell drops to 2ft, but the period jumps to 13 seconds, which is proper groundswell. The energy is moderate (171). But the wind is still onshore, so it’s just a clean-looking bump with no real shape. Wednesday the 29th is more of the same with a 3ft, 6-second windswell. Thursday the 30th drops right back down to 1ft and 90 energy. Friday the 31st and into the weekend of August 1st, the swell stays in the 3ft to 4ft range, but the period is short and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore. It’s all "poor surf conditions" according to the data.

Now, from Sunday August 2nd onward, the energy starts to build. The afternoon shows a 5ft SE swell with an 8-second period and a combined energy of 387 (moderate). The wind is still onshore, so it’s just a bigger, bumpier mess.

The real swell shows up in the second week. Monday August 3rd through Thursday August 6th sees swell heights climbing from 4ft to 6ft, with energy jumping from 216 to 982 (strong). The period is still mostly 7-8 seconds, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore. It’s going to be choppy and blown out. With the wind and the short period, this setup at Salgema, which is an exposed beach, looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The biggest swell of the window hits on Saturday August 8th, with an 8ft swell from the SE, a period of 10-11 seconds, and a massive combined energy of 1495 to 1546 (very strong). That’s a lot of water moving. But the wind is still onshore at 12 mph, with rain showers. That’s a big, powerful, sloppy mess. At 8ft, this is strictly for experts, and even then, the onshore wind will make it a battle.

The very last days, Sunday August 9th, we finally see the swell drop to 7ft with a 10-second period, and the energy is still strong (918). The wind is still onshore from the ESE, but the report says "marginal surf forecast." It’s the best of a bad bunch, but still not good.

So, straight up: there are no standout days in this 16-day window. The wind is always onshore, the swell is either tiny or blown out. The only real highlight, if you can call it that, is the swell on August 9th, but it’s still a long way out and the wind is against us. For a spot that is consistent, this is a bleak run. But it won’t stay this way forever.

Rusty.

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