The Rock-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your stick, let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for The Rock-Costa Azul. The water is sitting at a balmy 86° right now, which is a solid 8° warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s seriously unusual, so you might not even need a spring suit.

Right off the bat, the outlook for the next few days is a bit of a mixed bag. Thursday morning (9 July) we’ve got some swell from the SSW, around 4ft with a long 16-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 790. But the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a choppy mess – not worth paddling out for. Thursday afternoon cleans up just a touch, but it’s still marginal.

Friday (10 July) stays similar in size, but the afternoon sees a shift to a cross-offshore breeze from the SW. The waves are a clean 4ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and the energy is 734. This is where things start to look a bit more promising for a session if you can time the tide right.

Saturday and Sunday (11 and 12 July) keep that same 4ft to 4ft SSW swell rolling in. The mornings are a bit messy with light cross-onshore winds, but the afternoons turn clean again with that cross-offshore flow. Consistent, but nothing to get too worked up about.

Now, Monday (13 July) afternoon might be the hidden gem of the first week. The swell drops to 3ft from the SSW, period drops to 13 seconds, and the energy is 506. But the wind goes light cross-offshore, and the conditions are forecast to be clean. For a reef break that’s consistent like this one, small and clean can still be a lot of fun.

Tuesday (14 July) morning looks poor with a tiny 2ft SW swell and cross-onshore wind, but the afternoon session turns it around: clean, 2ft from the SW with a very long 18-second period. That long period groundswell will wrap nicely into this spot, and the energy is a moderate 533. A standout option for the afternoon if you’re chasing clean lines.

The real standout for the entire 16-day window, though, is Sunday, 19 July. We’ve got a 3ft SW swell with a 17-second period – that’s proper groundswell, and it’s coming from the optimum direction for this break. The morning is glassy, dead calm, and the combined energy is a solid 1115. You’ll have clean, peeling waves that are perfect for an advanced surfer to pick apart on the reef. This is the session to circle on your calendar. The afternoon stays clean, but with a risk of thunderstorms, so get out early.

Monday, 20 July, also looks fantastic. Another glassy morning with 4ft from the SW, 16-second period, and the combined energy at 871. The afternoon actually goes dead calm – zero wind – and glassy again, with energy at 1052. Two days in a row of peak conditions. This is why you wait for the good stuff.

After that, the second week gets a bit wild. Thursday, 16 July afternoon brings a 7ft SSE swell, but the wind is cross-shore and the energy jumps to 1697. It’s marginal, but there’s some size coming.

Friday, 17 July is a write-off – 12ft of S swell with onshore winds and moderate rain. Energy is a massive 4497, but the conditions are poor. That’s more of a kite session if anything, unless you’re a total charger.

Saturday, 18 July is still big at 8ft from the SW, but the wind is onshore in the morning and cross-shore in the afternoon. Energy is 2845. It’s going to be a handful.

From 22 July onwards, the wind really turns nasty with strong onshore breezes and stormy conditions, so except for the Sunday and Monday standouts, the second week is one to watch from the sand.

Bottom line: The best surf on offer is the glassy morning of Sunday, 19 July, and the glassy sessions on Monday, 20 July. The rest of the time, pick your afternoons with the cross-offshore wind. This break is consistent and exposed, and when it’s on, it’s a gem.

Rusty.

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