Zarautz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into what’s on offer over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a very quiet run. The first real surfable day doesn’t show up until Saturday the 1st of August, and even then it’s nothing to write home about. We’re looking at small, weak swell with short periods. The water is sitting at a warm 76°, which is a solid 5° warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s a nice treat if you’re out there.

For the first few days, there’s a whole lot of nothing. From Friday 31st July right through to Thursday 7th August, we’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak waves with poor conditions. The swell energy is barely registering, with combined energy values as low as 17 (weak) and never getting above 71 (still weak). The period is short, mostly 6 to 8 seconds, so it’s just windswell dribble. The wind is a mixed bag, but it’s often onshore or cross-onshore, so the surf is messy.

The one standout window in this whole period is the morning of Saturday 1st August. At Zarautz, we’ve got a tiny 2 ft swell from the NW with a period of 8 seconds. The wind is glassy – dead calm from the NNE at 3 mph. That’s the key. For a couple of hours, the surface will be clean, and you might sneak a few small, peelable waves. The break is a long, exposed beach, so it’s a beginner-friendly spot. The water is much warmer than average, so the paddle is pleasant. The crowd factor is ‘often’, so expect company, but with such small surf, it won’t be a circus.

After that, it’s a long slog. The next hint of life comes on Sunday 9th August morning. Again, small 2 ft swell from the WNW with a period of 9 seconds, and glassy conditions from the ENE at 3 mph. The combined energy is a paltry 49 (weak). It’s surfable, but just barely. The same goes for the morning of Wednesday 12th August, with a 2 ft NW swell, 9-second period, and glassy NNE wind. Energy is 62 (weak). Still tiny.

The final flicker of hope is the morning of Friday 14th August. The swell ticks up to 3 ft from the WNW, but the period drops to a pathetic 5 seconds. That’s short-period windswell, so it’ll be crumbly and weak. The wind is glassy from the NW at 3 mph, so it’ll look clean, but the waves won’t have any punch. The combined energy is only 59 (weak). Not a standout.

So, to be honest, the best on offer is the Saturday 1st August morning glass-off at Zarautz. It’s not a big swell, but the clean conditions will make it feel better than it looks on paper. The rest of the window is a write-off for surf. If you’re a beginner, the small clean waves on that Saturday morning are your best bet. For everyone else, it’s a long stretch of flat to tiny, messy swell. The fact that the break is ‘very consistent’ usually means it’s a reliable spot, but this time of year it’s just not working. The forecast can change, but for now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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