Urbiztondo Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the local banks.

To be straight with you, we are in for a rough stretch. The next week and a half is pretty much a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. From now through to about the 18th of July, the swell is tiny, barely a ripple, with energy readings stuck in the low teens or single digits (8 to 27). The wind is onshore or cross-off, and we’ve got a constant threat of storms and heavy rain. The water is 87°, a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t get cold while you’re waiting for something to show up.

The first real sign of life comes on Saturday the 19th of July. The morning shows a 2ft swell from the west with a groundswell period of 11 seconds, and moderate wave energy (108). The wind is cross-off from the south at 25 mph, which at least keeps the surface clean. The afternoon has a bit more energy (113) but shifts to a messy cross-shore, making it choppy. Sunday the 20th ramps up more – morning sees 3ft from the west-northwest, still with that 11-second period, and energy hitting 207, but the cross-shore wind is strong (25 mph) and lumpy. That afternoon, things get bigger: a 10ft west swell with a period of 11 seconds, and you feel the energy jump to 1881 – that’s serious power. The wind is still a strong cross-shore though, so it will be bumpy and difficult to read.

Now, Monday the 21st of July is where the real standout sits. The afternoon brings a 8ft west swell with a 10-second period and wave energy at 1180. That’s plenty of juice. The wind is a moderate south-southwest cross-shore, which isn’t perfect, but it’s manageable. This size is pushing into the expert zone – over 8ft and it’s for the skilled crew only. The morning of that day is 5ft from the same direction, a little smaller but still powerful (470 energy) and with a fresh cross-shore.

After that, the tail end of the period on the 26th of July shows a 7ft west swell with a 10-second period and energy at 944. The wind is cross-off and moderate, giving clean conditions on the surface. That’s another solid, big-wave day for the experienced surfers.

The only break on offer here is Urbiztondo Beach, a sandbar setup that’s consistent and fairly exposed, best with a north swell. The optimum direction doesn’t match the west-northwest to west swells we get, so the quality will be ordinary even when there’s size. The crowd factor is sometimes there, so you might have a few locals out, but not packed. With the smaller, weaker days, the beach will be mostly flat and messy. For the bigger days (over 7ft) with strong cross-shore winds, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – you’ll be fighting the bump otherwise.

So for the best on offer: Monday the 21st of July afternoon, with that 8ft west swell, is the one to circle if you’re an expert and can handle cross-shore chops. And Sunday the 26th of July morning, with 7ft and clean cross-off wind, is a close second for the big-wave crew.

Keep your expectations low for the next week and a half. It’s a long gap of nothing worth paddling for.

Rusty.

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