Zippers-Costa Azul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what's on the cards for Zippers-Costa Azul. We've got a bit of a slow start, then a pulse of solid energy, but we'll need to pick our moments.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off for a proper surf. Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st see some small swell around the 3ft to 4ft mark, but the wind is mostly cross-on or light, and the combined energy is only moderate (574 to 966). The wave quality notes are saying "marginal" – it's just not worth paddling out for.

Things start to get a little more interesting from Wednesday the 22nd afternoon. That's when we see the cross-off breeze from the west clean things up, with a 4ft SSW swell, period at 14 seconds, and combined energy kicking up to 789 (moderate). You'll get some half-decent, clean waves then.

But the real standout of the whole forecast window is Thursday the 23rd. Both morning and afternoon are looking magic. We’re talking a 5ft SSW swell, period at 10 seconds, and the wind goes glassy – completely offshore from the SSE swinging to SW. The combined energy is solid (707 and 659) and the wave comment is "expect very good surf conditions." This is your window. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. Get out there early.

After that, the swell builds significantly. Friday the 24th afternoon sees a 4ft SW swell with a very long period of 21 seconds, pushing combined energy to 1309 (strong). Saturday the 25th afternoon has a 5ft SW swell with a 19-second period and energy at 2099 (strong). This is proper groundswell. The caveat is that with a period this long, it can break a bit straight at a beach break, but Zippers is a beach and reef setup, so it should handle it. The winds are light cross-shore, so it'll be a bit bumpy but still very surfable.

Sunday the 26th keeps the swell up at 5ft to 5ft, but the wind gets a bit stronger. Monday the 27th is all 5ft SSW swell, but the cross-on wind makes it choppy.

Then, from Tuesday the 28th of July onwards, it gets big and gnarly. We're looking at 10ft to 12ft of swell. This is expert-only territory. The combined energy is through the roof – hitting 6213 on Wednesday the 29th morning. But the wind is onshore and strong, with risk of thunderstorms. The conditions are going to be messy and dangerous. Unless you're a seasoned charger and want a beatdown, stay out of the water. This is more of a spectacular show than a surf session.

By the end of the month, Thursday the 31st of July afternoon sees the swell drop to a more manageable 6ft from the WSW, with a clean cross-off breeze. That's a decent option for the more experienced lads.

Into August, the first week looks like a return to smaller, less consistent surf with a lot of stormy wind around. It's a bit of a gamble.

So, to sum it up: Thursday the 23rd of July is your absolute best bet – glassy, clean, and a solid 5ft. If you want bigger, more powerful groundswell, Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are your next best calls, but expect a little wind bump.

Keep it salty.
Rusty

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