Hornitos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a long stretch ahead, but it’s a quiet one for the most part. The only game in town is Hornitos, and it’s a slow burn with a few glimmers.

The overall pattern is small, long-period SW groundswell, but the quality is a real mixed bag. The water is sitting at 65°F – that’s nearly 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year, which is pretty notable. You’ll be surfing in a bath, basically.

The first real whisper of anything comes on the morning of Thursday, September 3rd. We’ve got a long-period 18-second SW groundswell rolling in at 2ft, with light offshore WSW wind. The combined energy is moderate, at 410. It’s small, but that long period means it’ll have some push. The problem is, the forecast flags it as marginal, so don’t expect much. The afternoon picks up a touch to 3ft with a 16-second period, but the wind goes cross-on, putting a little ripple on it.

Friday the 4th is the best of the early run. The morning sees a 4ft WSW swell, still 14 seconds, with a light offshore wind. The energy jumps to 652, which is solidly moderate. The wind stays light and offshore all day. This is the standout moment for the first week. For a consistent, fairly exposed spot like Hornitos, that’s about as good as it gets with this setup. The long period is a positive for a spot like this, giving shape and energy, though it might have a few longer lulls between sets.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th drop back down to 3ft and 2ft respectively, with the wind staying offshore but the energy fading. It’s rideable, but nothing to get excited about. Then we hit a bit of a gap. From Monday the 7th through to Tuesday the 15th, it’s a real slog. The swell is tiny, often under 3ft, and the wind is either cross-on or making the surface choppy. The combined energy drops into the 100-300 range, which is weak. The forecast calls it poor or marginal across the board. That’s a solid 8 days of barely anything worthwhile.

Then, on Wednesday morning, September 16th, we get a pulse. The swell jumps back to 4ft from the SW, with a 12-second period, and a light offshore wind. The energy hits 519, which is moderate. It’s still a small wave, but the cleanest and biggest we’ve seen in over a week. For a spot that’s been dead, this is a solid improvement. The afternoon drops to 4ft and the wind goes cross-on again, but not too messy.

The final few days, from Thursday the 17th into Friday the 18th, fade back to 3ft and 3ft, with the period dropping to 9 seconds. The quality is poor, with the wind mostly cross-on. The run fizzles out.

So, to be honest, there’s not a true standout here. If you’re itching for a paddle, Friday morning September 4th is your best bet – clean, light offshore, and the biggest swell of the first week. The other flicker is Wednesday morning September 16th, which offers a similar setup but a week later. The long period (15-18 seconds) on the early swells is a nice touch, giving the small waves more shape than they’d have with a short period, but it’s all pretty mellow. For a spot that’s consistent, it’s a bit of a downer, but that’s the sea for you. Forecasts can always change.

Rusty.

Read more