Zarautz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for us. It's a slow starter, but there's some real gold buried in there if you know where to look.

The water's sitting at 77°, which is a solid 5° warmer than your average for this time of year—that's a big deal, really unusual for us. The first few days are pretty bleak. Monday the 17th is a total flat spell, and Tuesday and Wednesday only offer up knee-high dribble with not enough energy to push a leaf. You're better off waxing your board and waiting.

But hold on, Thursday the 20th is where it all clicks into place. The morning brings a clean 4ft groundswell from the NW with an 11-second period, and the wind is dead calm—completely glassy. The energy jumps up to a moderate 284, and this is prime time for the log at Zarautz. It’s exposed and very consistent, so it’ll be holding well. This is the standout of the first week, a real moment of peace before the breeze gets on it later.

Then it fades back out. The weekend and early next week are average at best. The swell's short-period, the wind is on it, and it's just messy. You'll see some weak energy readings, but nothing that will make you sprint for your wetsuit.

Now, for the long-range stuff, which is a bit less certain but shows real promise. Thursday the 28th, the size starts to pick up. By the afternoon we're looking at a solid 8ft of WNW swell, which is a serious step up. That's getting into the territory where only the more experienced should be out.

But the big one is Saturday the 29th. The models are showing a massive pulse of energy—we're talking quadruple digits, a true powerhouse. A 15ft NW groundswell with a long 14-second period, and the wind is forecast to be off the land and glassy. It's a recipe for an epic, heavy day. But, and it's a big but, this is a big, powerful groundswell. At this size, it's strictly for experts. That long period might also make it walled and tough to ride a standard beach break. It's got the potential to be a day you'll remember, but it could easily be a washing machine.

If that's a bit too much, Sunday the 30th is looking like the most user-friendly of the bigger days. We're still talking a solid 8ft of NW swell, but the wind is light offshore in the morning, keeping things clean. With energy still strong (1273), this is a powerful, well-shaped wave for the experienced surfer. This might be your best bet if you want to get a piece of the action without being in over your head.

After that, the onshores return and the swell backs off, so make the most of it when it's here.

So, to sum it up: the first week, jump on Thursday morning's clean glass. The second week, keep an eye on the 29th for the monster session, and circle Sunday the 30th as the most promising all-rounder. Patience and a good tide chart are your friends.

Rusty, out.

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