Zarautz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at the local scene for the next couple of weeks. It’s a pretty quiet stretch, to be honest. We’re in for a long run of small, often messy conditions, and there’s nothing really firing until the very end of the forecast window. The first real opportunity to get a wave doesn't show up until Friday the 10th, and even then, it’s not firing. We’ve got a solid gap of flat or poor days before that.

So, Thursday the 9th is a write-off. The wind is cross-on, and the swell is a tiny 2ft at a weak 10 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 67, so the ocean is basically flat and bumpy. Not worth a paddle.

Friday morning the 10th, things start to look a little more hopeful. The swell is still small, around 2ft from the WNW, but the wind goes glassy. The water here is a toasty 77° and is much warmer than normal for this time of year—that’s a real anomaly, over 7 degrees warmer than usual. It’s surfable, but only just. The combined energy is still low at 66. It’s a tiny wave, clean, but we’re scratching for it.

Saturday morning the 11th sees a slight bump in energy, up to 108 with a clean, cross-off wind from the ESE. The swell is still small at 2ft, shifting from the NW. It’s a better chance for a few fun little ones, but still nothing to get excited about.

The rest of that week and into the next is a long, long stretch of poor conditions. From Sunday the 12th right through to the 22nd of July, the pattern is dominated by small, weak swell and a consistent cross-onshore wind from the NW. The combined energy often drops below 100, and the wave heights rarely get above 3ft. Those glassy periods on the 14th and 15th are on tiny, anemic swell with energy in the teens—just not enough to push you around.

Now, the standout period finally shows up later in the window. The first real pulse of energy appears on the 22nd of July. The swell builds to 5ft from the NW, with a combined energy of 324. The wind is cross-on from the NNW, so it won’t be perfect, but it’s finally a legit wave. The period is short at 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and sectiony, but it’s the best we’ve seen in two weeks.

The best of the best, though, and the one to really mark on your calendar, is the morning of Friday the 24th of July. Swell hits 6ft from the NW, with a very strong total energy of 467. That’s a lot of power. The wind is light from the NW, staying cross-on, but it’s light enough that the faces could be decent. The period is still short at 8 seconds, so it’s a stormy, powerful swell. This is only for the crew who know what they’re doing. At 6ft, it’s pushing into the too-big-for-beginners zone, and the short period will make it dumpy. This is a real session for experienced surfers only.

Overall, it’s a long wait with a late burst of real energy. The first 10 days are a write-off, but the final week has a couple of days that might just deliver. Keep an eye on that Friday the 24th.

Rusty

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