Zarautz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – the forecast is a bit of a tough one to swallow. For the next 16 days, there's no standout, epic session on the cards. The first recommendation doesn't come until the 26th of July, and even then, it's a marginal call. Before that, we're looking at a real flat spell with weak, short-period windswell and poor conditions.

Starting on Monday the 20th of July, through to Friday the 25th, it's a total write-off. We're talking tiny surf, mostly under 3 ft, with short periods (5-7 seconds) and winds that are either onshore or cross-onshore. The water is incredibly warm, at 77°, which is 7° warmer than usual for this time of year – very unusual. But that's the only positive. The combined swell energy is weak, generally under 100 (81), so don't bother paddling out.

The first glimmer of hope, and I use that term loosely, arrives on Saturday the 26th of July. The swell builds from the WNW, reaching 6 ft on the Sunday morning, with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 340 – that's moderate. But the wind is a cross-shore from the W at 9 mph, which will put a bit of a chop on the surface. Then Sunday afternoon it gets messy: 8 ft from the WNW but with a cross-onshore wind at 16 mph, making it choppy. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session.

Monday the 27th of July stays marginal, with 6 ft from the NW and a period of 9 seconds. The wind is still cross-onshore, but lighter. The period is getting longer, which is a good sign for shape, but the wind direction is the killer.

The only real chance for a session might be on Wednesday the 29th of July, early morning. The swell drops to 3 ft from the NW, but the wind goes glassy. That's a rare treat. The period is a solid 9 seconds, so there will be some energy in those waves. It's small, but it'll be clean. The combined energy is 131, so it's weak, but for a longboard or a funboard, it could be a nice, quiet paddle. It's a beginner-friendly break at Zarautz, so it'll be manageable.

The rest of the window into early August is small and average, with nothing to get excited about. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell is tiny. It's a long stretch of poor surf.

So, the best bet? If you're desperate, the glassy Wednesday morning on the 29th of July at Zarautz is the one to aim for. It's not a barrel, but it's the only clean option. Otherwise, keep your board in the car and wait for the next proper swell.

Rusty.

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