Rosarito Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

To be straight with you, the next week and a half is a bit of a struggle. We’ve got waves, but they’re small and the wind is just messy enough to keep things from really cleaning up. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is a notch warmer than usual for this time of year – about 2° above average, so the water feels nice.

Rosarito is the only spot on the menu, and it's a consistent, exposed beach, reef, and rivermouth setup that’s best for beginners. The swell is coming from the SW, which is its optimum direction, but the size is tiny.

For Tuesday morning, the 14th, we’ve got a 1ft SW swell with a 19-second period. That’s a very long period groundswell, which usually means better shaped waves, but here it’s just too small. The wind is a cross-on from the NW at 9 mph, and the combined energy is weak (320). It’s poor. The afternoon gets a little bigger at 3ft, but the wind picks up to 12 mph and it’s choppy. Not worth paddling out.

Wednesday and Thursday are more of the same – small surf, cross-shore or onshore wind, with the combined energy staying low (between 200 and 400). The few sessions that sneak into "marginal" territory are just not worth the drive.

By Saturday the 18th, we see a slight bump in energy to 533, but it’s still a 3ft SW swell with a light cross-on breeze. It’s marginal at best.

Sunday the 19th afternoon shows a jump in combined energy to 1028 (moderate), but the swell is still only 3ft and the wind is cross-on. It’s a tease.

The real change comes around Thursday the 23rd. The swell starts to push up to 5ft from the S, and by Thursday afternoon it’s hitting 6ft with a 14-second period. The wind is light and cross-on from the SW, with combined energy hitting 1244 (strong). This is the first time the surf starts to look like it has some push behind it, but it’s still listed as marginal.

Friday the 24th is the best stretch of the whole forecast. The swell holds at 6ft from the S, with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is 1643 (strong). The wind is a gentle cross-shore in the morning, dropping to a light cross-on in the afternoon. This is the standout. The waves will have some real power, but the long-period S swell might break a bit straight at the beach, so keep an eye on the tide. The water is still warm, but the south wind keeps it a bit lumpy. This is for the competent surfers – 6ft is getting solid for a beginner.

Saturday the 25th is also big, with 7ft from the SSW on the morning, and a light offshore wind. That’s the cleanest window we get. The combined energy is 1818 (very strong). This is a powerful swell, and with the onshore wind, the waves will be walled up. This is expert territory only. For the average punter, it’s going to be a washing machine.

After that, the swell drops back down to the 3ft to 4ft range for the last few days of the month, with lighter winds, but the energy is still moderate.

Bottom line: The first week is a write-off. The best on offer is Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th, with the 24th being the pick of the week for the mix of size and manageable wind. If you’re an expert, the 25th morning with the offshore wind could be a blast, but it’s big. For the rest of us, wait for the forecasts to change.

Rusty.

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