Hornitos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mates, Rusty here again, giving you the same outlook but in feet and miles per hour for those who think that way.

First up, Hornitos. The first few days are a bit of a dud for a proper paddle. This is a consistent spot, so it’s not a total dead zone, but we’ve got to wait for the good stuff.

The best window is Friday the 28th of August, with a solid pulse of long-period SW groundswell. Wave heights hit around 7 ft to 7 ft, and the swell period is a very long 15 seconds. That’s real groundswell, and with the combined energy hitting 1835, there’s some serious power in the water. This is not a beginner wave – over 8 ft and it’s for experts only, so this is in the solid intermediate to expert range. The wind is looking light and onshore through the morning, so the surface might be a bit lumpy, but the water temp is about average for the time of year, so no complaints. Because the swell direction is straight SW, and the optimum for Hornitos is SW, this is a great match. Just know, with a long period like this, the waves will be more powerful and have longer lulls between sets, which makes paddling out easier, but the sets themselves will be meaty. Crowds are a possibility, so get in early.

The run-up to that Friday is quiet. Tuesday 25th through Thursday 27th we’ve got tiny, weak swell. The waves are barely 1 ft to 3 ft, with poor energy (90 to 319) and the wind is cross-on or onshore, so it’s flat and choppy. Not worth a second look.

After the Friday peak, the swell backs off but stays rideable through the weekend. Saturday 29th still has 5 ft to 6 ft SW swell, but the energy is dropping (784 to 968) and the wind stays cross-on. It’s marginal but still a fun option if Friday was too big. The next week, from Monday 1st September onward, it’s a slow grind. The swell drops to around 4 ft to 5 ft, and the periods get shorter. The combined energy is moderate (376 to 517), and the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, so the surf will be messy and inconsistent. The best of that second week looks like Thursday 3rd of September, where a 3 ft to 3 ft SW swell shows up with a very long 17 second period. That’s a long-range groundswell, and the energy is moderate (664 to 803), but it’s a tiny wave. The wind is light onshore, so it might be clean but small.

Then on Sunday 6th September, we see another bump in size – 5 ft SW swell with a 15 second period and energy around 1133. That’s got some promise, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the forecast. The wind looks cross-on again, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the only other standout in the second week.

So, to wrap it up – the absolute best surf is Friday 28th August. It’s a solid, powerful SW groundswell with good period, and it’s the only day that really stands out. The rest of the time, you’re looking at marginal, choppy, or small conditions. This spot is consistent, so it won’t stay poor forever, but for now, circle that Friday and hope the wind cleans up.

Rusty.

Read more