Montanita Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

We’re lookin’ at a stretch that starts off with a bit of a whimper, to be honest. The first few days are underwhelming, with small, cross-on conditions and the wave comment calling it “marginal.” The water is a real standout though – it’s sittin’ at 79°, which is a whopping 9° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s far warmer than usual, which is a rare treat.

The first real glimmer of hope hits on Monday, September 7th. The morning session at Montanita is where it’s at. The wind goes glassy, the swell is a clean 3 ft from the SW, and the period is a solid 13 seconds. The combined swell energy is 456 (moderate), and the comment says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s your standout window. It’s not huge, but clean, glassy waves at a point and reef setup like Montanita? That’s the ticket. The only downside is the crowds – this spot is often crowded, so get in early.

After that, things get a bit sad. The wind turns onshore and cross-on, and the wave heights drop. From Tuesday the 8th through the end of the run, we’ve got a long stretch of days with poor to marginal surf. The swell hangs around 1 ft to 3 ft, but it’s mostly messy with long periods that won’t stack up well at a beach break. The combined energy drops into the 200s (weak) for most of the second week. There’s a brief pulse of longer period (21 seconds) on Saturday the 19th, but it’s only 1 ft to 2 ft, so it’s not gonna do much.

In short: pounce on Monday morning, September 7th, for the cleanest, glassiest waves on offer. The rest of the run is a write-off for proper surfing. The waves are just too small and the wind too messy. Might be a better time for a paddle or a swim in that warm water.

Rusty.

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