Ixtapa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about Ixtapa. The water temp is sitting pretty much average for this time of year, so don’t expect any surprises there. The surf window opens up on Thursday the 16th with some small, clean fun, but the real magic is spread out over the coming days. For the morning sessions, it’s all about light winds and glassy conditions, making for some sweet, clean waves. The afternoons tend to get a bit messy with onshore breezes, so make sure you’re an early bird.

Thursday morning the 16th is a good way to ease in. You’ve got a 3ft SSW swell with a 12-second period. The wind is just a whisper from the north at 3 mph, so it’s clean as a whistle. It’s not going to blow you away, but it’s a fun wave for beginners, especially with the weak energy (358). The only thing that might put you off is the risk of a thunderstorm hanging around.

Friday morning the 17th is a real treat. The wind goes glassy from the south at just 3 mph, with a similar 3ft SSW swell. The wave quality looks solid and clean again (349). It’s a perfect window for a long session if you can dodge the storms.

Saturday morning the 18th drops off a bit in size to 2ft, but the swell period stretches way out to 19 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which usually means more shape and energy, but at beach breaks it can close out a little. At Ixtapa (which is exposed), it might hunt around for a better bank. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the NNW at 6 mph, keeping things clean (435). It’s small but high quality.

Now, Sunday the 19th – that’s where things start to cook. The morning shows a 3ft SW swell with a 17-second period, and the energy jumps into the moderate range (911). The wind is from the NW at 6 mph, cross-offshore, so it’s clean. This is a proper session for the experienced crew.

Monday the 20th is a standout. Morning brings a 4ft SW swell with a 16-second period. The combined energy is strong (1083), and the wind is glassy from the east-northeast at 3 mph. That’s top-shelf, clean surf for experienced surfers. This is one of the best options on offer.

Tuesday the 21st keeps the quality up in the morning. Another 4ft SW swell, 14-second period, a lot of energy (972), and glassy conditions from the north at 3 mph. It’s clean and punchy. Again, the afternoons go onshore and messy, so stick to the sunrise.

Wednesday the 22nd through Thursday the 23rd sees a slight drop in size to 4ft - 4ft, but the wind stays glassy in the mornings with light offshore or calm conditions. The swell direction shifts a bit to WSW, but the energy is still solid (656 to 695). These are still very good, clean sessions for most skill levels.

Then we hit a big window. Friday the 24th rolls in with a 3ft SSW swell, but the period is enormous at 24 seconds. The combined energy is strong (1086), and the morning is glassy with an east wind at 3 mph. This is a very long-period groundswell, so it will have serious push and shape, but it will also be very straight at the beach. Look for a point or a reef to make the most of it. For the experienced surfer, this is world-class potential.

Saturday the 25th is the best of the whole run. Morning shows a 4ft SW swell, 21-second period, and the energy goes through the roof (1397). The wind is glassy from the east-southeast at 3 mph. That is a serious, clean swell. Competition-quality potential for the crew that can handle it.

From Sunday the 26th to Wednesday the 30th, the swell hovers between 5ft and 6ft, all from the SSW with periods of 14 to 18 seconds. The energy is very strong (well over 1300, peaking at 2370). The mornings stay glassy or with light cross-offshore winds, making for excellent, powerful waves. However, the size is getting into expert-only territory (over 8ft on the 31st). By Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th, the wind gets a little cross, but the morning windows are still excellent for those with the skills.

On the final day, Friday the 31st, you’ve got a 8ft S swell with a 13-second period and a light offshore north wind at 3 mph. That is a big, powerful wave with very high combined energy (2287). It’s strictly for experts, but the conditions will be clean.

The best two options: Monday the 20th for a perfect, glassy 4ft groundswell with strong energy, and Saturday the 25th for a massive, clean energy spike (1397) on a long-period swell. These are the standouts. The crowds at Ixtapa can show up sometimes, so keep an eye out.

Rusty.

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