Hookipa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the surf outlook for the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s a definite window of opportunity if you’re patient.

The overall pattern here is a slow start, a solid mid-week window, and then a long, drawn-out period of weaker, wind-affected surf. The standout days are clearly Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th of September, but we gotta get through the weekend first.

We start off on Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th with a solid 8ft to 8ft swell from the east-northeast, but it’s coming with a stiff 15 to 19 mph cross-shore wind. That’s gonna make it a bumpy, lumpy mess. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The combined energy is strong, around 1669, but the conditions are just not there for a good paddle.

Then Tuesday morning the 8th is where it gets interesting. The swell drops to a still-chunky 7ft from the east-northeast, but the wind swings to the south-southeast at a light 6 mph, turning it cross-offshore. The combined energy is still a solid 1091, and the forecast says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." That’s the one to circle. The wave period is 11 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell with good shape. It’s a bit on the bigger side, so it’s not for beginners, but for those who know what they’re doing, Tuesday morning at Hookipa is going to be firing. The wind stays light and clean into Tuesday afternoon with a 6ft swell, making for a long, quality session.

Wednesday morning the 9th, the swell drops to 5ft, but the wind picks up again from the east at 16 mph, turning it back to a cross-shore chop. The energy drops to 538, and the quality goes with it. This is where the good run ends.

From Wednesday the 9th afternoon all the way through to Saturday the 19th of September, it’s a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions. The swell is consistently below 5ft, mostly from the east, and the wind is almost always a moderate cross-shore breeze. The wave energy is weak, with values mostly under 400. There are a few moments on the 20th of September where the wind looks a little better, but the swell is small and the energy is still low. It’s a real test of patience.

The one bright spot right at the end is Monday the 21st of September afternoon. The wind is light from the east-southeast, turning cross-offshore, and the swell is a diminutive 4ft from the east. The energy is only 316, but it’s clean. It’s a small, clean day for the log or a fun fish, but it’s a long way off.

So, bottom line: If you’re a competent surfer, be on the water at first light on Tuesday the 8th of September. That’s the best of the bunch. The long stretch from the 9th to the 20th is mostly a write-off for quality surfing. It’s a long gap, but the forecast can always change.

Rusty.

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