La Preciosa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, your local surf reporter. Let's take a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

First up, we're looking at a pretty quiet spell for the most part. The water is sitting at a warm 84°F which is pretty much average for this time of year at La Preciosa, so no surprises there. The trade winds are blowing from the east and southeast, and while they're cross-offshore, they're also making things a bit bumpy. For the next few days, it's a real struggle. The combined energy is low, barely hitting 76 (weak energy) on Sunday, and the swell is short-period, around 6 seconds, with a height of only 3ft. That's a lot of work for not much reward. The wind is a steady 12 mph, so it's messy.

Monday and Tuesday are even worse, with the swell dropping to 0.7ft. Even the energy drops to single digits - it's basically flat. Wednesday morning sees a small bump back to 3ft, but still with a puny 6-second period and weak energy (81). It's just not worth paddling out for.

The first real hint of something happening is on Thursday, 27 August. The swell picks up to a consistent 4ft from the east, and the period jumps to 8 seconds. The combined energy hits 214 (moderate wave energy), which is a step up. The wind is still 12 mph from the east, so it's cross-off, but it's clean. The forecast calls it marginal, but it's the best we've seen.

Friday and Saturday (28th and 29th) are similar, with the swell hovering around 4ft to 5ft, and the energy building from 196 to 233. The wind is still a moderate breeze, so it's not perfect, but it's rideable. The period is still short at 7 seconds, so expect a bit of a bumpy, close-out wave at a beach break.

Now, the standout. Sunday, 31 August, rolls around and we get a real shot of quality. The swell is 3ft but the period jumps to 14-15 seconds! That's a long-period groundswell. The energy is strong at 480 (strong wave energy). The wind is a moderate breeze from the east, so it's cross-off and clean. This is the one to circle on your calendar. Long-period east swell at a reef break like La Preciosa, with the optimum direction being north, and this swell is coming from the east, so it's not a perfect match, but the quality of the energy is undeniable. The morning session on the 31st is the pick of the bunch.

Then, on Tuesday, 1 September, we get the biggest swell of the window. The morning sees a 6ft swell from the east with a 12-second period and a massive 915 combined energy (very strong wave energy). The wind is light at 9 mph. This is a legitimate, powerful groundswell. The only caveat is that 6ft is getting into the "too big for beginners" zone, and with that much energy, it's going to be a proper, heavy reef break. For the advanced crew, this is a dream. Wednesday, 2 September, is still solid with a 5ft swell and 10-second period, but the energy drops to 401 (moderate wave energy).

After that, the swell fades fast. Thursday, 3 September, drops to 3ft, and by the weekend of the 6th and 7th, we're back to tiny, weak 0.7ft to 2ft waves with minimal energy. That second week is a write-off, so don't hold your breath.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a grind. The real windows are the morning of Sunday, 31 August, with that long-period groundswell, and the morning of Tuesday, 1 September, with the biggest, most powerful swell. If you're an advanced surfer, the 1st is your day. For everyone else, the 31st is the better bet for cleaner, more manageable surf. The crowds are listed as "sometimes" at La Preciosa, so with that quality of swell, expect company.

Rusty.

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