San Gallan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for San Gallan. I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough one. This spot is a real diamond, a consistent advanced reef break that needs a clean south swell and light winds to shine. But this forecast is a real heartbreaker.

Right now, and for the whole run, it’s mostly cross-onshore or howling onshore wind. The swell is small and weak most of the time, with combined wave energy barely getting out of the two-digit zone. For example, on Saturday morning the 22nd, we’re looking at a weak 3 ft south swell at a short 8 seconds, with a 5 km/h cross-onshore. The combined energy is only 100, which is weak, and the water is a roasting 68° – that’s about 7° warmer than normal, which is very unusual for this time of year.

We drift through a long, flat patch. From the 22nd right through the end of August, the swell rarely gets above 3 ft and the wind is junk – cross-on or straight onshore. It’s small, weak and choppy. There are no standouts in this stretch, just poor surf conditions day after day.

Now, hold on. There’s a flicker of hope right at the very end of August. On Sunday the 30th, the swell starts to build. By Monday the 31st, we’re looking at a 7 ft to 8 ft south swell with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to 639 and 719, which is finally moderate wave energy. That’s got some push. But here’s the killer – that whole time the wind is a strong onshore breeze, blowing 25 to 35 km/h from the SSE. That’s going to trash it. This swell is too big for beginners at over 8 ft in the morning, and the onshore wind makes it a real mess. Honestly, the setup on the 31st looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

That swell hangs around into the first week of September, still blown out by strong onshores. The size comes down, but the wind doesn’t let up. There is a brief moment on Friday morning, September 4th, where the swell is just 3 ft with the wind straight onshore – still not clean. We see a little glass on Saturday morning, August 28th, but the swell is a tiny 2 ft at a 5-second period with next to no energy (24). It’s a tease.

So, what’s the call? There are no true standouts in this 16-day window. For an advanced spot like San Gallan that needs clean conditions to shine, this is a long, frustrating run of poor surf. The only real pulse of energy arrives around Monday, August 31st, but the strong onshore wind ruins it, making it only for the hardcore. We’ve got a massive gap of poor conditions before that.

Keep your chin up – it’ll swing back eventually.

Rusty

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