Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. We’ve got a solid two-week stretch here, but it’s a mixed bag – plenty of size, but you’ll need to pick your moments. The water is sitting at 55°, and that’s a solid 5° colder than what’s normal for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting a thick wetsuit. Early on, it’s a bit rough, but there are a couple of windows that could be magic if you know what you’re doing.

The first surf we’re looking at is on Tuesday, August 18th at Horse Trails. It’s a sandbar, fairly exposed to the swell, and they’re seeing a 8ft swell from the WSW with a 12-second period. That’s a decent groundswell, but the wind is a cross-shore from the S at 9 mph, so it’s got a bit of a cross-chop. The combined energy is moderate, at 2413. It’s not the cleanest, and it’s a marginal day. It stays similar through Wednesday, with the swell around 8ft and the wind swinging cross-on, making it choppier.

Now, Thursday, August 20th is where things get serious. The swell jumps to 10ft from the SW, with a 13-second period. That’s a lot of water – combined energy is 3031 in the morning, which is strong. The wind is cross-shore from the S at 9 mph, so it’s not totally blown out, but at this size, Horse Trails is going to be big, powerful, and only for very experienced surfers. It’s too big for beginners and likely only for the experts. The afternoon sees the wind pick up to 12 mph from the SSE, adding more chop.

We get a drop on Friday, August 21st, with the swell back to 7ft and a cross-on wind, but it’s not looking clean. Saturday, August 22nd, brings rain showers and a messy 7ft swell, with a cross-on wind from the WNW at 12 mph – poor conditions, not worth it.

Here’s the standout. Sunday, August 23rd early morning: the swell is 10ft from the SW, 12-second period, combined energy of 2402 (strong). The wind is a light cross-shore from the S at 6 mph, keeping it relatively clean. Again, this is expert territory. But it’s the best looking morning of this first week.

We get a drop in size again on Monday, August 24th, with 5ft from the WSW, but the wind is light and cross-shore, so it’s small and a bit weak.

Now, looking ahead to Tuesday, August 25th – this is a real highlight, but it’s still a week out so keep an eye on it. The morning has an 8ft swell from the SW, but the period jumps to 14 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the SE at 6 mph. Combined energy is 2741 (strong), and the conditions are described as clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon stays similar but with a cross-shore wind.

Wednesday, August 26th afternoon is worth a mention too. The swell drops to 6ft from the WSW, but the wind goes glassy – 3 mph from the WSW, and the water will be like glass. Combined energy is moderate at 1061. That’s a rare, clean window if you can get out.

The end of the month and into September shows more big swell. Sunday, August 30th has an 12ft swell from the SW, with glassy winds in the morning and afternoon – combined energy of 4529 (very strong). That’s huge, clean, and for experts only. Monday, August 31st morning has a 8ft swell from the SW, clean conditions with a cross-offshore wind, and combined energy of 1693 – another solid session for the experienced crew. The afternoon goes completely glassy with a 7ft swell – that’s a sweet spot.

The very last day, Wednesday, September 2nd, shows an 12ft swell from the WSW, with offshore winds from the NE at 12 mph. That’s big and clean, but again, for the big wave chargers only.

Overall, the best bet for a clean, rideable wave without being a monster is probably the Tuesday, August 25th morning session – that 8ft, 14-second groundswell with light cross-offshore wind is a proper standout. The Monday, August 31st afternoon with the glassy 7ft swell is another cracker. The rest of the time, it’s either too big, too windy, or too small. Crowds at Horse Trails are sometimes an issue, so on those good windows, expect company.

Keep it on the radar, and don’t be a hero on the 10ft+ days unless you’ve got the skills.

Rusty

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