Zarautz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next week and a half around Zarautz is a tough watch. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak, and messy conditions before a potential pulse of energy arrives late in the window. The water is running at 76°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a solid 5°F warmer than average, so you’ll be surfing in a rash guard.

For the first few days, through Wednesday the 14th, it’s basically flat. We’re talking tiny 1ft to 2ft swells from the WNW with periods around 10 seconds, and the combined wave energy is a measly 38 to 92 (weak). The wind is light and glassy or offshore on Thursday morning, but the swell just isn’t there to push anything. It’s a low-energy, poor surf setup.

Friday the 16th through to Tuesday the 20th doesn’t get much better. The swell picks up a fraction to 3ft to 3ft, but the period drops to 7-8 seconds, and the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore at 6-9 mph. Energy climbs into the low 100s (109 to 134), but it’s still short-period, wind-affected junk. Not worth paddling out for.

There’s a slight glimmer on Monday morning the 19th – glassy conditions with a 2ft swell from the NW, but it’s still only 76 energy (weak) and described as “surfable but very ordinary.” You could sit on a board, but you won’t be catching much.

Then we hit a seven-day stretch of absolute doldrums. From Tuesday the 20th through to Sunday the 25th, it’s mostly 1ft to 2ft, periods of 4-8 seconds, and energy levels below 100. The wind flips between glassy and onshore, but there’s nothing to work with.

The story changes on Thursday the 22nd of August. A pulse of NW groundswell arrives, pushing 5ft to 6ft with a period of 11-12 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 770-802 (moderate strong). Now, this is solid, long-period swell, but the wind is a light cross-onshore from the NW at 6 mph, which will put some texture on the face. The conditions are described as “marginal,” but for a beach break, this is the best chance we’ll see. It’s still a bit lumpy, so maybe not the cleanest session, but the juice is there.

Friday the 23rd holds 5ft from the NW with a 10-second period, and energy at 509 (moderate). Still a cross-on wind, but it’s a step down.

The real standout is Tuesday the 27th of August. The afternoon sees an 8ft WNW swell rolling in with a 9-second period, and the combined energy hits 1014 (strong). That’s a proper, powerful swell. The wind is onshore from the NNW at 6 mph, so it won’t be glassy, but at 8ft, that’s expert-only territory. The break (Zarautz) is a very consistent, exposed beach break, so it’ll be handling all that power. The onshore wind will make it a bit bumpy, but for the big-wave crew, this is the session to be on. Crowds are often a problem here, and with a swell this size, expect the lineup to be full.

Wednesday morning the 28th drops to 5ft from the NW with a 7-second period and glassy conditions. Energy is 254 (moderate), and it’s described as “expect good surf conditions.” That’s a cleaner, smaller option for the next day.

Best on offer: The standout is clearly the Tuesday 27th August afternoon with that 8ft WNW swell (1014 energy). It’s big, it’s powerful, and it’s the only real size in the whole forecast. The onshore wind is a shame, but the raw power is undeniable. If you’re an expert, that’s your window. For the rest of us, the Thursday 22nd morning with 5ft and 12-second period is the next best thing – a solid, long-period groundswell that will wrap in, even with the light cross-onshore breeze.

Rusty.

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