Windansea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into this 16-day window for the La Jolla zone. The real story here is a persistent, long-period SW groundswell that's going to be humming through, but it's been a bit of a tease for Wavefinder. The conditions are keeping things marginal – not quite the clean, get-amped session we’re all after.

First up, we’re looking at Windansea (United States). This is a classic reef setup, and it’s exposed to the SW swell. The water is sitting at a very unusual 73°F, which is a full 6°F warmer than normal. That’s a bit of a wild anomaly for July.

The wave energy is moderate but persistent. Early on, from the 18th, we see a clean 2ft swell with a very long period of 18 seconds, but the wind is blowing onshore. The energy is weak (355), and the quality is just poor. You’d be fighting the wind more than the wave. The 19th and 20th see a bump in energy into the 500-800 range, but the swell is still small – 3ft to 3ft – and the wind is still onshore. It’s a frustrating wait for a cleaner window.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on the 24th. The morning sees a 2ft swell with a monster 24-second period. The energy is moderate (923), and the wind goes cross-shore. That’s a light breeze, but cross-shore will create a bit of a chop. The afternoon looks better for size with 4ft from the SSW and a 13-second period, but the wind is still cross-shore. It’s still marginal.

The whole following week, from the 25th through the 1st of August, is a story of consistency without quality. The swell hangs around 3ft to 4ft, the period is between 14 and 19 seconds – meaning good, long groundswell lines – and the energy is solidly in the 700-970 range. But the wind is a persistent problem: onshore or cross-onshore. It’s infuriating because the waves are there, but they’re just not clean. The combined energy hits 973 on the 28th, which is a strong push, but the wind let’s it down.

The only standout worth mentioning is the 30th and 31st of July. The swell picks up to 4ft and 6ft, with the energy finally cracking four digits – 1083 on the 30th morning and 1106 on the 31st morning. The wind is onshore, which is offshore for this break, so we might get clean conditions. The direction shifts to a more S and SSW, which is a touch off the optimum SW, but the size and power are undeniable. The 31st morning with 6ft, 14-second period, and light onshore wind is the best you’ll see in this outlook. It’s still a marginal call, but that’s the pick.

After that, things drop off quickly. The 1st of August sees 5ft, but the period drops to 12 seconds, and the 2nd of August is a complete write-off with 3ft, 10-second period, and onshore wind. The quality vanishes.

So, to spell it out: the first week is a grind of small, windy swell. The second week has more power, especially on the 30th and 31st, but the wind is a constant issue. The 31st of July morning is your best bet for a clean, powerful session on the reef. If you can’t wait, the 24th is the best of the early period, but it’s a cross-shore gamble.

Rusty out.

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