La Preciosa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The next 16 days are looking like a tough stretch for quality waves at La Preciosa. We’re in for a long, dry spell with hardly anything worth paddling out for, so keep your expectations low.

Right from the start on Thursday the 3rd of September, we’ve got tiny swell in the water. The combined energy is weak at just 42, and it stays that way for days. The swell is coming from the east, but it’s short-period stuff, mostly around 5 to 8 seconds, and the wind is cross-off, not really doing us any favours. The water temperature is sitting at 85°F, which is about 2°F warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing too wild, just a bit on the warm side.

The first real hint of something surfable doesn’t show up until Friday the 11th of September. The morning sees a bit of offshore wind, with the swell coming from the east at 3ft and a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy bumps up to 171, and the comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not a standout, but it’s the first time the wind is actually working with the wave face. The rest of that day and the following days are back to poor surf conditions with cross-off winds.

Sunday the 14th of September is the only true highlight in this whole outlook. Monday morning the 14th we’ve got a moderate offshore breeze from the ESE, swell from the east at 5ft and a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 254, and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the best on offer. The swell direction is east, which matches the optimum direction for this reef break, and the offshore wind will keep the waves clean. The 5ft size is pushing the limits for beginners, but it’s still manageable for most. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so you might not have it all to yourself.

After that, the outlook fades again. Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th are back to ordinary or poor conditions. The final days, Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th of September, see offshore winds again but the swell drops off to 2ft to 3ft with weak energy, so it’s not worth the effort.

Bottom line: if you’re set on surfing La Preciosa, the only real window to look at is the morning of Monday the 14th of September. Everything else is a flat, windy mess. It’s a long gap with no real recommendations, so don’t hold your breath.

Stay patient, Rusty.

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