La Preciosa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking in on La Preciosa for the next two weeks.

First off, we’ve got a real quiet stretch coming up. From Tuesday the 28th of July through to Monday the 10th of August, there’s just nothing doing. The wind is a steady cross-off breeze from the east or southeast at 12 to 19 mph, keeping the surface glassy, but the swell is weak and short-period. The wave energy is low – often under 200, and sometimes as low as 44 (combined energy of all swells directed here). The swell height barely gets above 5 feet, and when it does, like on Thursday the 30th of July, the wind kicks up to 22 mph and the quality is still poor. Even the morning of Friday the 7th of August, when the wind goes offshore, the swell is only 3 feet from the east-northeast with a period of 8 seconds and energy of 132. Clean, but no guts. That’s a long, flat run.

But look, things finally turn around on Tuesday the 11th of August. Tuesday morning, clear skies, a moderate breeze from the east at 12 mph, and the swell starts to push 6 feet from the east with a period of 7 seconds. The energy jumps to 349 (combined energy of all swells directed here). That’s moderate energy, and it’s the first real sign of life. Tuesday afternoon, the swell holds at 6 feet, the period goes to 8 seconds, and the energy hits 367. The wind is cross-off, so the surface stays clean. This is the best in the window.

Then Wednesday the 12th of August, the morning looks even better. Swell hits 6 feet from the east, period 8 seconds, and the energy is up to 485 – solid moderate energy. The wind is from the east-southeast at 16 mph, still cross-off, and the conditions are clean. This is a big step up. It’s a reef break that’s very consistent, exposed to the swell, so it’ll grab that energy. The optimum swell direction is from the north, but the east swell will still wrap in. Water temp is about average for the season.

Because the swell is between 6 and 6 feet, it’s getting into the range where beginners might struggle. The period is 7 to 8 seconds – short period, windswell – so the waves will be a bit lumpy and close together. Not a long-period groundswell, so not as clean and lined up, but it’s way better than the previous week. The crowds are marked as “sometimes,” so expect a few other surfers, but not a full-on crowd.

So, the bottom line: skip the first week and a half. The only real window is Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th of August. That’s your play. It’s a long-range call, so keep checking in, but right now, that’s the only time worth paddling out.

Rusty.

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