Montanita Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's coming up for Montanita.

Alright, the outlook for the next sixteen days is a bit of a mixed bag. We've got a solid window of clean, rideable surf kicking off, but then it drops off into a long stretch of smaller, marginal conditions. The water is absolutely roasting right now, sitting at 79°, which is a massive 9° warmer than usual for this time of year—very unusual.

We'll start with the best of the bunch. The standout is coming up on Saturday, August 29th, and the morning is your window. Montanita is a reef and point setup that's exposed to the swell, and it's a fairly consistent spot. We've got a solid 5ft of long-period groundswell from the WSW, with a period of 15 seconds. That long period means the waves will have real shape and punch, perfect for a point break like this. The combined energy is moderate at 900, and with a light cross-onshore breeze from the SSW at 6 mph, the surface will be clean enough to work with. The afternoon session is also on the cards with the same 5ft swell, but the wind swings more onshore from the SW at 9 mph, making it a bit bumpier. This is the best wave on offer—the swell size is a solid intermediate level, and the long period will make the paddling out easier between sets.

From Sunday, August 30th, the swell starts to back off. The morning sees 4ft of WSW swell with a 13-second period, but the cross-onshore wind makes it a little choppy. By Monday, August 31st, we're down to 3ft, and the conditions are poor. This pattern of small, marginal surf with mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds—light breezes around 6 to 9 mph—continues right through the first week of September. The wave energy hangs around between 300 and 500, which is weak to moderate.

Now, there's a bit of a pulse on Friday, September 4th. The morning brings 4ft of WSW swell, with a 16-second period, and the cross-onshore breeze is light. The afternoon sees that swell jump up to 5ft from the SW, with combined energy hitting 1060 (moderate). But the wind is onshore at 9 mph, so it won't be as clean. The tide could be a factor here too, as the data flags it as marginal. Still, the energy and period mean there's something to work with for the more experienced crew.

After that, from Saturday, September 5th, all the way through to Sunday, September 13th, the surf stays small and underwhelming. The swell heights hover between 1ft and 4ft, with periods bouncing around from 13 to 19 seconds, but the winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore. The energy stays weak, never cracking 400. The 1ft swell on the 13th with a 19-second period is a classic example of a long-period groundswell that just doesn't have the height to do anything—it'll be a flat, glassy lake out there.

So, to put it simply: your best bet is the morning of Saturday, August 29th. The swell is solid, the period is long, and the wind is manageable. The pulse on Friday, September 4th is worth a look if you're keen, but don't expect perfection. The rest of the run is a write-off for decent waves. There's a massive gap of poor-to-marginal surf from the 31st of August through to the 13th of September, so you'd be better off doing something else for that stretch.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecasts—things can change.

Rusty.

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