Montoya Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m lookin’ at the next couple of weeks for Montoya.

First off, I gotta be straight with you: the next several days are a bit of a write-off. We’re talkin’ a long stretch of poor surf conditions from Monday, the 24th of August, all the way through to the end of the month. The water temperature is sittin’ about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Monday morning at Montoya (beach and point) has a 6ft swell from the SSE, but that cross-on wind from the south at 9 mph is messin’ it up. The combined wave energy is moderate (905), but the conditions are choppy and onshore. It’s a no-go. Monday afternoon, Tuesday, and Wednesday all offer similar stories – waist-high-ish swell, but the wind is just wrong, usually cross or cross-on, leadin’ to marginal or poor surf. The energy drops right off, too. By the 27th and 28th, we’re down to dribbly 2ft to 3ft waves with almost no energy (188 down to 159). It’s a tough stretch.

Then we hit a real blank spot. From the 29th of August through to the 6th of September, it’s pretty much all poor surf. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, and the periods are short – think 5 to 7 seconds. The combined energy is weak, barely crackin’ 100 (like 63, 65, 34). A lot of those days have onshore wind, just no power in the water. Not worth paddlin’ out for.

Now, there’s a little flicker of life on the 1st of September. Tuesday morning brings a 5ft swell from the SW, but it’s a short period of 6 seconds – that’s windswell, not groundswell. The wind is offshore from the WNW at 12 mph, so the surface will be clean, but the wave quality is just “ordinary”. The energy is low (164). It’s a session for the die-hard, but not really a standout.

The real highlight, the only one I’d seriously point you at, is the 8th of September, Tuesday morning. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the east, with a period of 8 seconds. A light offshore wind from the NNE at 6 mph will have it glassy. The wave energy is moderate (217) and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the best on offer. The wind is clean, the swell is rideable for intermediates, and it’s not too big. Crowds are “sometimes” a thing at Montoya, so you might have a few others out, but it’s the best bet in this 16-day window.

Everything after that in the second week is small, short-period, and mostly poor. The 7th of September has a bit of size (5ft) but the period is 8 seconds and the wind is cross-shore, so it’s messy.

So, to sum it up: a long, slow start, then a solid chance on the 8th of September. That’s the one to circle.

Rusty

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