Montanita Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s brewing around Montanita. This is a reef and point set-up that needs a serious SW groundswell to fire, and it’s an advanced wave. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Right now, we’re sitting in a bit of a flat spell. The first good look of the window isn’t until Sunday morning, August 23rd, and even then it’s only marginal. Swell is a tiny 2 ft from the SW, with a long 18-second period, but the wind is a light cross-onshore. The combined swell energy is only (210) – weak. It’s a poor start.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are much the same story: small SW swells around 2 ft, light cross-onshore winds, and energy staying in the low hundreds. Nothing to get excited about.

The first real sign of life shows up on Friday morning, August 28th. The swell bumps up to 2 ft from the SW, still with that long 18-second period, but the energy jumps to (548) – moderate. The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it’s still a bit messy, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Then Saturday, August 29th is the standout. The morning brings a 6 ft SW swell with a 16-second period. That’s a solid groundswell. The combined energy is a strong (1498). The wind is light cross-onshore, which is decent for this exposed point. Afternoon stays clean with a 5 ft SW swell, clear skies, and a light onshore breeze. This is the best on offer – a proper, powerful SW groundswell hitting the point. The wave will be chunky, and with that period, expect long, clean lines. The crowds are often here, so expect company.

Sunday the 30th still has some push, with a 5 ft SW swell in the morning (energy 859), but it’s fading. The wind stays light cross-onshore.

After that, the swell drops back through the first days of September. Monday the 31st has a 4 ft SW swell, but the energy is down to (445). By Tuesday, September 1st, it’s back to 3 ft with cross-onshore wind.

There’s a notable moment on Wednesday morning, September 2nd. The swell is only 2 ft from the SW, but with a 16-second period and the wind goes glassy – light offshore from the SW. The energy is (250). It’s a small window, but if you’re on a longboard or a fish, the conditions will be perfect. Glassy, long-period lines on a reef point – that’s a dream.

Thursday and Friday, September 3rd and 4th, see a small pulse of SW swell around 3 ft with 16-18 second periods, energy in the (600-700) range. Winds are light cross-onshore. It’s marginal but rideable.

The window fades out by Saturday, September 5th, with the swell dropping to 3 ft and weak energy.

So here’s the takeaway: the first week is a write-off for any decent surfing. The standout is Saturday, August 29th – the biggest and most powerful swell of the whole outlook, with 6 ft SW groundswell and strong energy (1498). That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The glassy morning of Wednesday, September 2nd is a dark horse for clean, small waves.

Rusty.

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