Hornitos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer. It’s gonna be a bit of a quiet stretch, but there are a couple of windows worth paddling out for.

We’re looking at Hornitos, and for the first week and a half, it’s a real struggle. The swell is there, but it’s not happening. The wind is stubbornly cross-on, and the wave quality is just not there. The combined swell energy is moderate, often in the 400-900 range, but it doesn’t matter when the conditions are choppy or the tide is wrong. The best we can say is that on Thursday the 6th of August, there’s a morning with a light offshore breeze, 4ft of SW swell at 12 seconds (moderate period, 897 energy), but it’s still labeled as marginal. Same goes for the afternoon with a 5ft SW swell at 14 seconds (997 energy), but the wind swings cross-on. It’s frustrating because the swell is there, but the wind just won’t cooperate.

The pattern continues through the weekend and into the next week. We get a bit of a bump on Sunday the 9th with a 5ft SW swell at 14 seconds (973 energy) in the afternoon, but again, cross-on wind. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. By Monday the 10th, the afternoon sees a 5ft SW swell at a very long 15 seconds (1046 energy), which is a proper groundswell. That kind of period usually means better-shaped waves, but at a beach break like Hornitos, it can break a bit too straight. Still, the energy is moderate, and the light breeze is just cross-on, so it’s not a total write-off, but it’s not a standout.

The real standout window is looking like Wednesday the 19th of August. There’s a solid 6ft SW swell rolling in with a very long period of 15 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1455. That’s strong wave energy. The morning has a light cross-on, but the afternoon turns clean with a light offshore wind from the west. The swell drops to 6ft but still holds that 15-second period (1229 energy). This is the best on offer. For experienced surfers, that 6ft at a long period will have some punch, and with cleaner wind, it’ll be the most fun we’ll see all forecast. Beginners might find it a bit much.

The following day, Thursday the 20th, is still okay with a 5ft SW swell at 14 seconds (787 energy) and a light breeze, but it’s cross-on again. The magic fades out pretty quick after that.

So, to sum it up: the first ten days are a grind of marginal conditions. The one true standout is the 19th of August, especially the afternoon. That’s your window. The rest? Keep an eye on the forecast, but don’t cancel your plans.

Rusty.

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