Hornitos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook for Hornitos is a bit of a quiet one, and honestly, it’s a frustrating stretch. The swell is hanging around, but it’s mostly small and the conditions are just not clicking into gear for a proper session. You’ll be looking at a long gap of poor surf before anything even starts to feel a little bit promising.

The first week is pretty much a write-off. From Saturday the 5th right through to Tuesday the 10th, the wave energy is moderate, with combined energy values ranging from 282 to 511, but the swell height is tiny – only 2ft to 3ft. The period is long, mostly 13 to 18 seconds, which usually means groundswell, but the size just isn’t there to make it worth getting wet. The wind is light and mostly onshore, so the surface won’t be glassy or clean. It’s marginal at best, and the scores reflect that – nothing to get excited about.

Then from Wednesday the 11th through to Friday the 18th, things get even worse. The wave energy drops, with combined energy values as low as 109, and the swell stays small, between 2ft and 4ft. The wind picks up on the 11th, with a moderate cross-onshore breeze at 12 mph, making it choppy and messy. The guidance says poor surf conditions, and honestly, that’s the truth. There’s a gap of about eight days where the surf is just not worth paddling out for.

The first real glimpse of hope comes on Saturday the 20th of September. The morning shows a 4ft swell from the SW, with a period of 12 seconds, and the wind is light and onshore. The combined energy is 381, which is moderate. It’s still marginal, but it’s the best-looking window in the whole 16-day forecast. The wind is light, so the surface might be okay, but it’s not a standout. The break is fairly exposed to the SW swell, and the optimum direction is SW, so it’s a good match. The crowd situation is “sometimes,” so you might have a few others out, but it’s not a zoo.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit unless you run cold.

Look, if you’re desperate, the 20th is your best bet, but keep your expectations low. It’s not a day to call in sick for. The setup is a beach break, so with small swell and light wind, it’s more of a longboard or funboard kind of day. If the wind gets stronger, it could be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Hang in there, and check back in a few days – forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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