Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Horse Trails, starting Tuesday the 4th of August. The water temperature is sitting right around the average for this time of year, so nothing weird there. The week kicks off with a clean, playful 5ft swell from the SW, with a period of 11 seconds. The combined swell energy is a decent 484 (moderate). Tuesday morning has a light offshore wind, and by the afternoon it goes glassy. That’s the kind of start you dream of.

Wednesday the 5th gets a bit more serious. The swell jumps to 7ft overnight, still from the SW, and the period stretches to 16 seconds – proper groundswell energy. The wind turns N and starts blowing 12 mph, making it a bit cross-off. It’s clean, but that longer period means the waves will have more punch and longer lulls. This is intermediate territory. The combined energy hits 1940 (strong). By Wednesday afternoon, the swell pushes to 8ft and the wind goes cross-shore, so it gets a bit lumpy.

Thursday the 6th sees the swell pumping at 10ft from the WSW, but the wind is light and cross-off from the SE, keeping it clean. The energy is 3184 (very strong). However, this is getting big – definitely too much for beginners, and even intermediates will be tested. This is expert-only territory. The same holds for Friday the 7th, with the swell still 10ft and cross-shore winds adding some chop. The energy is a massive 3675 to 3949. This is a big, powerful ocean.

Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th are a write-off for the average punter. Saturday has 8ft swell with onshore winds, and Sunday is a mess with 12ft swell and strong onshore winds at 19-22 mph. The energy is 3451, but the quality is poor. Honestly, Sunday morning looks more like a kite session than a paddle session.

The best of the bunch, the real standout, is Tuesday the 11th. The swell drops to a much friendlier 5ft from the SSE, with a 9 mph offshore wind from the east. The energy is 950 (moderate), but the conditions are described as very good. The waves will be clean and lined up. After that, Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th are also excellent for experienced surfers. The swell is 5ft to 6ft from the WSW, with long periods between 16 and 19 seconds, and clean offshore winds from the ENE. The energy is 1618 to 1941 (strong). This is groundswell perfection for a sandbar, but keep in mind that long-period swell can make beach breaks a bit too straight. Still, with the wind right, it’ll be quality.

The second week, from the 14th to the 19th, is a mixed bag. The 15th (Saturday) has a glassy 5ft swell in the morning, which is a nice little window. The 16th (Sunday) morning offers 7ft from the SW with clean cross-off winds, and the energy is 1779 (strong). That’s another good session for experienced surfers. After that, the swell climbs again, with 10ft by Wednesday the 19th, but it’s cross-shore and big, so again, experts only.

Overall, the standout window is Tuesday the 11th through Thursday the 13th. Get on it. Crowds are possible at Horse Trails, so get there early.

Rusty.

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