Vagabundo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, let me give it to you straight. After looking over the forecast for the next 16 days, I’ll tell you right now: it’s a pretty grim picture. There’s a whole lot of nothing on the menu and a whole lot of wind to go with it. There aren't any days that truly stand out as special; it's mostly about finding the least bad option.

The only day that even comes close to being worth a paddle-out is August 22nd, and I’ll get to that. But for everyone else, you might want to plan on doing something else with your time.

The start of the period, from the 8th through the 13th, is just awful. You've got surf heights around 5 to 6 feet, but the period is a weak 7 seconds and dropping to 6. This is all short-period windswell with no punch. The wind is up and mostly onshore or cross-onshore, so the surface is gonna be a mess. The wave energy is moderate, with readings between 184 and 299 – there’s just no juice to it.

We get a slight increase in energy on the morning of the 14th, hitting 379, and it climbs a bit into the morning of the 15th, touching 425 and 391. But again, the period remains a weak 7 seconds, and the wind is still cross-onshore. So even though there's a bit more water moving, it's still messy and unrideable. The waves are around 6 to 6 feet, but it's all chop.

From the 17th to the 21st, the surf backs off significantly. Swell heights drop to around 4 to 4 feet, and the period is still short, mostly 7 seconds. You'll get a few mornings with the wind more offshore, like the 17th and 19th, but the surf is so small and weak it's just not worth bothering with. It’s the kind of dribble you'd see and just look the other way.

Now for the 22nd, your one ‘maybe’ day. We're looking at waves around 4 to 5 feet, and the period finally kicks up to 9 seconds. That's a big improvement. The generated energy is the most we’ve seen all period, with readings of 331 and 376. It’s still not big, but it's the most push we’ve had. The downside: the wind is still a moderate cross-onshore, so it won't be smooth, but there's enough there to make it interesting. Bring your board, but expect some surface texture.

And to finish things off, the 23rd is a complete write-off. The wind ramps up to around 19 mph, a fresh breeze, and it’s cross-onshore, making it bumpy and lumpy. The swell drops off and the period goes back down to 8 seconds. Game over.

So, that's the long and short of it. A long, frustrating outlook. The only day that even gets close to being worth your time is the 22nd, and even then you're just making the best of a bad situation. The water is a normal 75° for this time of year, so you won’t be cold, just disappointed.

I will say this: this break is known for being reliable. A dry spell like this is a bit of an outlier. Keep watching the forecast, because things can change quickly. But for the next two weeks, manage your expectations, and maybe bring a book to the beach instead of a board.

Rusty out.

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