Ixtapa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here with a look at what Ixtapa’s got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag to start, but there are some absolute gems hiding in the second week if you’re patient.

The surf is pretty small to kick things off, but don’t write it off. We’ve got a moderate energy groundswell rolling in from the South-west, sitting around 650 (moderate wave energy) Monday morning, but the wind is all wrong – cross-on from the Southeast at 16 mph, so it’s gonna be choppy and tough. Not worth paddling out for that one. The rest of the first week stays on the smaller side. We do get clean conditions kicking in Tuesday the 25th morning with a light offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, and the swell hangs around 2 ft from the SW with a solid 16-second period. That’s proper groundswell, so the sets will have some push, and the mixing bowl at Ixtapa will offer up some clean little waves. It’s a beginner-friendly spot anyway, so that’s perfect for a learner session. By Wednesday the 26th morning, it goes glassy with a whisper of wind from the NE, making it as smooth as a mirror. The swell’s still small at 2 ft, but the energy is there (271). Then Thursday the 27th morning is another glassy one with a touch more size at 2 ft and a super long 18-second period. That’s a long period swell, so the wave shape should be nice and lined up, making it easier to pick off the runners.

Now, the real standout is coming up on Thursday the 3rd of September morning. We’ve got a very strong energy reading of 1737, with a 4 ft swell from the SSW and an incredible 19-second period. The wind is glassy from the NNW at just 3 mph. This is the kind of morning you dream about – clean, powerful, long-period groundswell. The water temperature is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 89°, so you won’t need a wetsuit. Keep in mind, the swell is just under 5 ft, so it’s still manageable for a wide range of skill levels, but the power from that period will make it feel punchy.

The absolute best on offer, though, is Friday the 4th of September morning. The swell bumps up to 7 ft from the SSW with a 17-second period, and the wave energy is cranking at 2547 (very strong wave energy). The wind is glassy again from the NNW. That’s a solid size, and with that much energy, it’s going to be a scene for experienced surfers only – the line-up will be intense, and you’ll need to know what you’re doing. This is the session to circle on the calendar.

Later, on Saturday the 5th of September morning, it’s still solid at 6 ft from the SSW, glassy, with energy at 1471. Another fantastic window, but still on the more powerful side.

After that, the swell slowly drops back down. Sunday the 6th morning is clean with a cross-offshore wind, but the size drops to 5 ft. Then we get another surprise on Tuesday the 8th of September morning: a glassy 3 ft swell from the SW with a very long 19-second period, and energy back up to 1009 (moderate wave energy). That’ll be a clean, playful day for the longboard or a fun mid-length.

The real story here is the second week. Those mornings on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of September are going to be memorable. Get after it.

Rusty.

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