Playa Varesse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – the outlook for our local stretch here at Playa Varesse is pretty bleak for the next sixteen days. We’ve got a stubborn run of weak, short-period swells and rubbish winds that just won’t let anything decent settle in. There’s one little window where things look almost promising, but you’ve gotta be patient.

Let’s start with the overall picture. For days on end, from now until the end of August, we’re looking at cross-shore and cross-onshore winds messing up the surface, with swell heights bouncing between 2 ft and 4 ft but with such short periods (9 to 14 seconds) that the energy just doesn’t have any punch. The combined swell energy readings are low to moderate – a few in the 300 to 600 range, but nothing that’ll get your heart racing. The water is sitting at about 50°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing when you’re waiting for nothing.

Now, the one true standout in this whole sorry run is Thursday morning, the 27th of August. That’s your best bet. We’ve got a 4 ft swell coming from the SSE with a period of 12 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll have some shape and energy (combined energy of 360). The wind swings around to a light 3 mph cross-shore from the NNW, and while that’s not glassy, it’s close. The conditions are rated as marginal for surf or questionable tide, but honestly, in this stretch, that’s the pick of the crop. The swell direction is from the SSE, which is a fair match for Playa Varesse’s optimum ESE direction, so it should wrap in reasonably well.

The afternoon of the 27th gets even better – a 3 ft swell from the SE with a 12-second period, and the wind turns offshore from the SW at 6 mph. That’s clean as a whistle. The combined energy drops to 270 (moderate), but with offshore wind and a long period, the waves will be well-shaped and hold their line. This is your window. Beginners can handle the size, but keep in mind the longer period means longer lulls between sets – which makes paddling out easier, so take advantage.

From Friday the 28th onwards, it’s a slow slide into nothing. Swell heights drop to 2 ft and below, periods shorten to 9-10 seconds, and the combined energy falls below 100 – that’s weak stuff. The wind stays cross-shore or cross-offshore through the end of August and into September, but the swell just isn’t there. We go from the 28th right through to the 5th of September with nothing but poor surf conditions and scores of zero. That’s a solid gap of over a week with no recommendations.

There’s a tiny blip on Saturday the 5th of September with a 2 ft swell from the south and a 10-second period, but the combined energy is only 101 and the wind is a moderate cross-shore. It’s still poor. After that, we’re into the second week with even smaller swells – 1.0 ft to 1 ft – and periods of 6 to 8 seconds. That’s just wind chop, not worth paddling out for. The winds flip around a bit, with some offshore breezes on the 2nd and 3rd of September, but with no swell to push, it’s a flat, clean pond.

Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, Thursday the 27th is your only day. Otherwise, this is a classic blank run for the area – it’s normal to see these long flat spells in late summer. Forecasts can change, but as it stands, keep your board in the car and your hopes low.

Rusty.

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