Zippers-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple weeks at Zippers-Costa Azul.

You’re looking at a real slow start with small, weak surf and tricky winds. The water is running a full 5 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, so it feels like a bath out there. The first few days are not worth paddling for.

Tuesday the 14th is flat and messy, with a light onshore wind. Wednesday the 15th gets a bump from a 4ft SSE swell but the morning wind is cross-on. The afternoon turns promising though, with a clean cross-off wind and the same size swell. That's your first real window. The combined energy is moderate (544) but the direction is right for the break.

Thursday the 16th is tiny, glassy but not enough push to get excited about. Friday the 17th through Sunday the 19th offers moderate swell, around 4ft to 5ft, but the wind keeps it on the messy side. A couple of glassy periods creep in on the 16th afternoon and the 20th afternoon – that Monday the 20th afternoon has a clean 4ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period and glassy conditions. The combined energy ramps up to 1173. That’s a decent session and a solid pick for experienced surfers.

Now, the big stuff arrives Tuesday the 21st into Wednesday the 22nd – but don't get fooled. The swell jumps to 7 to 10ft and the combined energy hits 1876 and then 4152, but the wind is straight onshore and choppy on the 21st, making it nasty. By Wednesday afternoon the 22nd, the wind goes glassy, the swell is a solid 10ft from the SSW with a 14-second period. That is heavy, clean, and big. This is expert territory only. The peak comes Wednesday the 22nd afternoon and that is the standout of the whole outlook – clean, powerful, long period groundswell with glassy conditions. Thursday the 23rd keeps the 8ft waves going with offshore NW wind on the afternoon session. That is another beauty.

Friday the 24th is still big at 8ft but with cross-onshore wind and shorter period. It fades over the weekend. Saturday the 25th has a glassy 3ft swell with an absurdly long 21-second period – interesting but tiny. Sunday the 26th morning looks excellent, glassy with a clean 4ft SW groundswell at 18 seconds.

The final week from the 27th to the 29th keeps a steady supply of 4ft to 4ft SSW swell with long periods. The standout there is Wednesday the 29th morning: glassy, 4ft SSW at 15 seconds, combined energy 1068, and clean. A wonderful way to close the outlook.

One standout overall: Wednesday the 22nd afternoon. Big, glassy, long period swell at 10ft from the SSW. That is the session for experienced surfers only. The other real winner is Monday the 20th afternoon – smaller but still clean with excellent conditions for the crew that prefer chest high waves without the intensity.

Rusty, signing off.

Read more