La Preciosa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for this spot over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow cooker this one – nothing exciting for a few days, then a couple of real standout sessions if you time it right and if you’ve got the skills to handle it.

We’re talking about La Preciosa, a solid reef break for the advanced crew. Water temp is sitting at 85°, which is about 1° above the norm for this time of year—pretty standard, nothing freaky.

First up, the early outlook is flat and average. From Thursday 27 August right through the weekend and into early next week, we’ve got weak, short-period windswell mostly from the east. Swell heights are only around 3 ft to 4 ft, with short periods of 7-8 seconds. The wind is a moderate cross-offshore (12 to 16 mph), which keeps the surface clean, but the waves are weak and lack any real punch. The combined swell energy is in the moderate range, between 158 and 224 (moderate energy). The scores are low for this stretch—honestly, there are better things to do than paddle out for choppy, weak lines. This is a full gap of three days with no real recommendation.

The first real standout hits on Monday 31 August. Monday afternoon is the one to circle. Swell jumps to 7 ft from the ENE with a period stretching to 11 seconds—hello groundswell. The combined energy rockets up to 1104 (strong energy). And the wind? It swings offshore out of the SE at 12 mph, giving you clean, glassy faces. This is excellent surf but hold up—7 ft on a reef is no joke, and the break is listed for advanced surfers only. This is not for beginners. The optimum swell direction is from the north, and we’re getting ENE, so it’s off-angle but still plenty punchy. With the break being very consistent and crowds possible, get in early if you’re game.

Then the surf backs off again through Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 September, dropping back to 4 ft with shorter periods and cross-off winds. Combined energy drops to the 200s again (moderate). Not worth the drive.

The next and final standout window is Monday 7 September. Monday morning shows 5 ft from the east, period at 12 seconds, and the combined energy sitting at 664 (strong energy). The wind is a light 9 mph from the ESE, which is cross-offshore. This one scores a “very good” call. It’s a bit away, so the confidence is lower, but the ingredients are there. By Tuesday 8 September morning we’ve got the wind turning offshore from the ESE at 9 mph (gentle offshore), with 3 ft from the east, period 10 seconds, and combined energy of 233 (moderate). This is clean and lined up—a solid option if the Monday is too big or crowded.

After that, the end of the run looks small and tired. Swell drops to under 3 ft, periods stay short, winds remain cross-off, and the combined energy drops into the weak range (under 100) from 4 September onwards. There’s a flicker on Sunday 6 September afternoon with a 14-second period at 2 ft, but the energy is still weak and the conditions are marginal.

Bottom line: If you’re experienced, hold out for Monday 31 August afternoon and Monday 7 September morning. Those are the two realistic standout sessions in this 16-day stretch. The rest is a whole lotta nothing for paddling.

Rusty.

Read more