Ollas Altas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks. The vibe right now is pretty flat and frustrating, but there’s a glimmer of hope if you’re willing to wait.

Right now, we’re in a rough patch. The first real window of opportunity doesn’t show up until Tuesday the 25th, and even then, it’s marginal at best. We’re looking at a solid 3-4 day gap from now with basically nothing worth paddling out for.

Ollas Altas is our only break on the menu, and it’s a tricky one. It’s an exposed beach and point setup, which means it catches whatever swell is around, but the wind is often a problem. For the first several days, it’s all cross-on, which messes with the face. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 88°, which is a bit unusual for this time of year.

The first chance we get is Tuesday morning the 25th. Swell is 4ft from the SW, with a period of 12 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (594). It’s marginal, but the wind goes light cross-shore, which is the best we’ve seen. Still, the surf quality isn't great, so it’s more of a “scratch around for something” session.

We then hit a few more days of onshore junk until Monday the 31st of August rolls around. That morning, the stars almost align. We get a 3ft SW swell, period of 14 seconds, and a light NE cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is a solid moderate (400). The forecast says “clean” conditions. This is our first real standout. The swell is small, but the clean conditions will make it surfable and fun on the point. It’s not going to be a world-beater, but after the run of poor surf, it’s a welcome sight. Keep in mind, though, that this spot can get crowded sometimes, so get in early.

After that, things get a bit spicy. On Thursday the 3rd of September, the swell bumps up with a 4ft SW groundswell carrying a long 18-second period. The combined energy jumps to strong (1104). The wind is light cross-shore in the afternoon. This is a proper groundswell with a very long period, so it will be bowling and powerful. At a point break like Ollas, this could be excellent for experienced surfers, but for beginners, the 4ft swell will be powerful and the sets will have some punch. That afternoon is the other standout session on the books.

Then into the second week, we see a consistent run of 4ft to 4ft SW swells, but the winds are mostly cross-on or cross-off. It’s not the cleanest, but there will be waves. The energy stays in the moderate to strong range (800-900+), so there’s always something to ride. It’s a case of picking the right bank and hoping the wind lays down.

So, to sum it up: it’s a slow start, but we have two real highlights. The clean, small morning on Monday the 31st of August is your best bet for a fun, user-friendly session. The more powerful, long-period groundswell on Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon is the one for the more experienced crew looking for a bit of punch. Don't get your hopes up too high on the days in between; it's going to be a bit of a slog.

Rusty.

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