La Preciosa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about La Preciosa.

First thing you need to know: the water temp is sitting at 83°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Honestly, the next week and a half is a frustrating watch. We’ve got a constant easterly breeze—mostly cross-off, which isn’t terrible—but the wave quality just isn’t there. The swell is hanging around 3ft to 4ft, coming from the east-northeast or east, but the period is short, mostly 7 to 8 seconds. That’s weak, windswell energy, not the kind of groundswell that gets this reef setup singing. The combined energy is mostly in the 100-200 range (117 to 198), which is only moderate at best. The forecast calls it “poor surf conditions” straight through until the end of July, and I’m not gonna argue with that.

There is a small glimmer on the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July. The wind finally swings offshore from the ESE, and the swell is 3ft from the east. The period drops to 6 seconds, which is pretty junky, but the energy is only 101, and the comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s not a session to get excited about.

Then on the morning of Thursday the 30th of July, things perk up a bit. Swell bumps to 5ft from the east, period 8 seconds, and the wind is offshore from the ESE. The combined energy jumps to 267, and the comment says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the standout of the entire forecast. The swell size is 5ft, which is a solid head-high wave for an advanced crew, but remember it’s short-period stuff, so it won’t have that long, drawn-out feel. Still, with offshore wind and a score to match, that Thursday morning is your best bet. Keep in mind that La Preciosa is a reef break and it’s very consistent, but it can get crowded sometimes, so get there early.

After that, it’s back to the same old story. The first week of August looks bleak. From Saturday the 1st of August through to the 8th, the swell drops, the period stays short, and the wind is mostly cross-off. The energy values fall off a cliff—down to 90, 72, even 3 on the 5th of August. There’s a morning on the 6th of August with light offshore wind, but the swell is a pathetic 3ft with a 6-second period, and energy at 57. That’s barely a ripple.

So, to sum it up: the only day worth paddling out is the morning of Thursday the 30th of July. For the rest of the 16-day window, it’s a whole lot of nothing. Don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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