Playa Varesse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down for the Varese area over the next 16 days.

Honestly, it’s a rough start. The first week and a half is pretty much a bust. The swell is small, the energy is weak—mostly in the double digits, barely hitting 100 (like 81, 64, 52)—and the conditions are just not there. The water temp is 50°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but that’s about the only thing that’s not a letdown.

The first real chance doesn’t come until Monday, August 3rd. That’s a 9-day gap with nothing worth paddling out for. On Monday morning, we get a 1.5m swell from the east with a 9-second period, and offshore wind from the southwest at 15 mph. The energy jumps to 353 (moderate), and by the afternoon, it’s even better—same 1.5m east swell, energy up to 383, and clean offshore wind. That afternoon session is the only one in the whole window that gets a “good surf conditions” note. The swell direction (east) is close to the optimum for Playa Varesse (which likes ESE), and with offshore wind, it’ll be clean. This is the standout. The swell is 1.5m, so it’s on the edge of being too big for beginners, but it’s not a monster. The period is 9 seconds, so it’s a bit short, but it’ll still have some shape.

Tuesday, August 4th, also has some potential. We’re looking at 1.6m swell from the ESE—the optimum direction—with a 10-11 second period and cross-offshore wind. The energy is strong, hitting 500 to 559. The water is clean, but the notes say “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions,” so it’s not as solid as Monday. Still, if you’re out, Tuesday afternoon could be worth a look.

After that, it fades. Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th see the swell drop and the wind go cross-shore or cross-onshore, so it’s back to small, ordinary waves. Friday the 7th is tiny, with 0.5m to 0.6m, and onshore wind, so no. The weekend of the 8th and 9th is also small, with 0.5m to 0.8m, and even though the wind is offshore on Sunday, the swell is just too weak.

One thing to know: Playa Varesse is a beginner-friendly spot that’s consistent, but it can get crowded sometimes. The water is a touch warmer than usual, but that doesn’t matter if there’s no surf.

So, here’s the call: if you’ve got the patience, wait for Monday, August 3rd afternoon. That’s your best shot. Tuesday the 4th is a decent backup, but it’s a bit more iffy. The rest of the 16 days? Not worth the wax.

Rusty

Read more