Hornitos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it. The outlook for Hornitos over the next 16 days is a bit of a grind. We’ve got some size on offer early, but the wind is going to be a constant battle. The water is sitting at a balmy 65°, which is a solid 5° warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.

The forecast kicks off with a pulse of energy on Friday, August 28th. We’re looking at a 7 ft swell out of the WSW with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell that’s packing some serious weight – the combined energy is a hefty 1644 (strong wave energy). However, the wind is cross-on from the SW at 9 mph, which is going to chop it up. The report says it’s “fairly choppy.” Hornitos is a consistent, fairly exposed spot, and for an intermediate surfer, that size with that wind might feel like a wrestling match. It’s not all bad; those long-period sets (over 15 seconds) will mean clean lines and more time to paddle out, but the surface will be bumpy.

From Saturday, August 29th through the first few days of September, it’s a frustrating pattern. The swell drops a bit, hovering around 4 ft to 5 ft, but that pesky cross-on wind sticks around. The energy drops significantly, going from 968 (moderate) down to the 400s and 300s. The conditions are described as marginal or poor. Not worth getting excited about.

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel in the second week. On September 4th (Friday morning), a new swell fills in at 4 ft with a 14-second period from the SW, and the wind shifts to light offshore from the W at 6 mph. The combined energy climbs back up to 695 (moderate wave energy). This is actually a promising window. Then, the standout session of the entire outlook is on Saturday, September 5th afternoon. We get a 3 ft SW swell, still with a decent 13-second period, and the wind goes glassy – dead calm at 3 mph. That is a major positive. For a few hours, Hornitos will be clean and inviting, though the energy is only moderate at 403. It’s a small, clean window, but it’s the best on offer.

After that, it’s more of the same. The swell fades back into the 2 ft to 3 ft range through to September 12th, with poor surf conditions and cross-on winds dominating. The combined energy drops into the weak range (below 200) by the end of the run. A couple of mornings on the 9th and 10th see light offshore wind, but the swell is small and the energy is only moderate at best. It’s a tough call; don’t pencil in any epic sessions.

The long-range stuff from September 5th onward is promising but less certain. That Saturday afternoon glass-off is the one to keep an eye on. For the rest? It’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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