Valdovino Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Valdovino.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start ahead, but the second half of the outlook really starts to fire. Things are looking pretty average for the first week or so, with a few windows of opportunity, but the real standouts are shaping up around the 15th and 16th of September. That’s where the energy and conditions start to click.

Valdovino itself is a fairly exposed spot, and for Thursday morning the 3rd, we’re looking at clean, cross-offshore winds from the ENE at 9 mph with a 2ft swell from the WNW. The period is short though, only 8 seconds, so it’s not going to have much punch. The combined swell energy is weak, only 77, so you’re not going to get much drive. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. Think small, weak lines.

By Friday the 4th, the swell bumps up a little to 3ft, but the wind swings cross-shore and picks up, making things messy. The water temp is sitting at 65°F, which is about average for this time of year, so a 4/3 wetsuit will do you fine.

Saturday the 5th is where we get our first real flicker. The swell jumps to 6ft from the NW with a long period of 14 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy hits a strong 1135. Saturday morning is a bit cross-off with a moderate breeze, but it’s the Saturday afternoon that’s the pick of this early window. Winds drop to a light 6 mph from the ENE, still cross-off, and the swell holds at 6ft. It’s clean, it’s punchy, and with that long period, you’re getting well-shaped waves with good gaps between sets. This is a solid option for intermediate surfers, but keep an eye on the tide.

Sunday the 6th goes downhill fast as the wind swings onshore from the WSW.

Monday the 7th throws up a bigger 7ft swell from the WNW, but it’s got a cross-onshore wind that’ll chop it up. Not ideal.

Then we hit a bit of a dry spell. From Tuesday the 8th through to the middle of the next week, it’s small, weak swells and mostly onshore or side winds. There’s a glassy morning on Tuesday the 8th with 4ft, but the period is short and the energy is low (267). It’s clean if you’re desperate for a slide, but don’t expect much push.

Saturday the 12th morning is glassy with a tiny 3ft WNW swell – calm winds, no ripples. The kind of morning you’d take out a longboard if you had nothing else to do, but the energy is weak.

Now, here’s the main event. Tuesday the 15th is where it starts to wake up. That morning brings a 2ft swell from the NW, but the period is a whopping 15 seconds. Combined energy is moderate at 392, but with clean cross-off winds from the E at 9 mph, the waves will be well-shaped and lined up. That long period favours the points and reefs – it’ll break a little straight on a beach, but Valdovino can handle it. The afternoon sees a jump to 6ft with a 17-second period – that’s very long period groundswell. Combined energy rockets to 1913, which is strong. Winds are cross-shore though, so it’s a bit messier.

But the absolute standout is Wednesday morning, the 16th of September. This is the one. 6ft of clean NW groundswell, period of 14 seconds, and light 6 mph easterly winds blowing cross-offshore. The combined swell energy is a solid 1436 – that’s strong, powerful surf. The report says excellent conditions for experienced surfers, and I’m with that. This is a proper session for anyone who knows what they’re doing. Crowds are likely here, so get in early.

Thursday the 17th morning should still be fun with a clean 4ft NW swell and light glassy winds, but the energy drops back to moderate.

After that, it fades into small, weak surf for the end of the outlook, with a bump of short-period windswell on the 18th from the NE, but the wind is onshore and messy.

So, to wrap it up: don’t get too excited for the first week. Saturday the 5th afternoon is a nice little session, but the real gold is Wednesday the 16th morning. That’s your standout.

Rusty.

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