Hornitos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming our way for Hornitos. It’s a bit of a slow start, but there's some promise later on if you're patient.

We're kicking off with a real quiet spell. The water temp is sitting at 65°, which is a solid 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s pretty unusual and makes for a nice comfortable paddle. For the first week, from Thursday the 20th right through to Wednesday the 27th of August, we're looking at pretty poor surf. The swell energy is weak, reading only between 44 and 490 (moderate energy at best), and heights are tiny, mostly under 3 ft. The wind is mostly light cross-onshore, and the conditions are just not cooperating. There's a small window on the morning of Sunday the 23rd with glassy conditions on a tiny 2 ft swell, but it's not worth getting wet for. Basically, it’s a blank run until the end of the month. That’s a solid 8 days of barely a ripple.

Now, the real standout – and the only one worth circling on your calendar – arrives on Friday the 28th of August. We get a proper pulse of energy. The swell jumps to 7 ft from the WSW, which is right in the sweet spot for Hornitos. The swell period is a very long 16 seconds, so this is pure groundswell with plenty of push. The combined energy rockets to 2511 (very strong) – you’ll feel that in the water. Wind is a light 6 mph from the west, straight offshore, so those waves are going to be peeling clean and smooth. Keep in mind, at 7 ft, this is expert territory. The sets will be powerful with long gaps between them, making it easier to get out the back, but it’s not for the faint of heart. This is the day to be there.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are still solid, with 6 ft to 7 ft swell from the WSW and SW, but the wind turns light cross-onshore, so it won't be as perfect as Friday. The energy is still strong, reading 1332 and 1386 respectively. Good fun, but Friday is the pick.

We then see the swell slowly drop through the first week of September, with heights falling from 7 ft down to around 3 ft by the 4th. The wind stays mostly light and variable, often offshore. A notable mention is the morning of Wednesday the 2nd of September – the wind goes glassy on a 4 ft SW swell with a period of 10 seconds. The energy is moderate at 415, and those glassy conditions will make for a really fun, clean session for intermediates. After that, a new long-period pulse from the WSW on Thursday the 3rd (16 seconds, 3 ft) has potential, but the energy is moderate and the wind is light cross-onshore, so it's a gamble.

In short: wait it out for a week. The big moment is Friday the 28th of August. That’s your standout. After that, keep an eye on the 2nd of September for some glassy, user-friendly waves.

Rusty.

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