La Preciosa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, listen up. It's a bit of a slow burn this one, so don't go rushing out just yet. We've got a lot of flatness to wade through before things get real.

For the first week, right up to the 13th of August, it's slim pickings. We're looking at waves around 3 to 4 feet with a short, weak period of 6 to 7 seconds. The energy is anemic, in the 87 to 170 range. The wind is cross-offshore out of the east, so the surface will look clean, but there's just no power behind it. It's straight-up poor conditions. The 13th picks up a little to 5 feet in the afternoon, but it's still short-period and weak, so it'll be messy and uninviting.

Around the 14th and 15th, the size bumps up to a solid 6 feet, and the energy gets going, hitting 417 and then 536 on the 15th. But the period is still a short 8 seconds, so it will be bumpy and a bit all over the place. The wind freshens to 18-19 mph, which keeps it from being clean. The 15th and the 17th morning are the only ones that get a side-eye, but it's still a dicey call at best.

Then, mark this in your head: the morning of the 18th of August. That's when we get our one real standout. The swell drops slightly to 6 feet, but the period jumps to 11 seconds and the energy leaps to 743. That's a massive difference in power. The wind is a light 9 mph offshore, so it should be glassy. This is the whole ballgame right here. Solid size, long period, clean conditions. It’s not going to be perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than anything else we see. The afternoon still has good energy at 612, but the wind will be up a bit.

After that, it fades fast. From the 19th through the 24th, there’s no real standout. Swell drops back to 2 to 4 feet, with the energy dying down to as low as 25. Periods bounce around from 5 to 9 seconds, but it's all weak and uninspiring. There might be a few rideable waves if you're desperate on an afternoon, but there's nothing worth planning around. It just peters out.

About the spot itself: La Preciosa is a reef break that breaks very consistently, but it's an expert-only wave. It's exposed to the north, which is also its best swell direction, so that works in our favor when there is some proper groundswell. Water temp is 84°F, which is about what you'd expect for this time of year. And remember, this place can get crowded, so if it does turn on, expect some company.

So, there you have it. The play is to sit tight and wait for the 18th of August. That's the one. Everything else is just a tease.

Rusty

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