Tijuana Sloughs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s kick back and look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. The good news is there’s always something to talk about, but the bad news is that for the first ten days or so, it’s going to be a real grind. We’re looking at a long stretch of marginal conditions with a lot of waiting for the right combination.

Our main focus is Tijuana Sloughs, a river mouth setup that’s consistent and exposed to the swell. Right off the bat, starting Sunday afternoon, August 9th, we’ve got a little pulse of swell coming in at 3 ft from the SSW, with a long period of 15 seconds. The water temperature is a notable 74°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year. But the problem is the surf quality is poor. The combined energy is weak (306), so it’s not doing much. The wind is light and offshore from the West, which is a positive sign for clean conditions, but the waves just aren’t there.

The whole next week, from Monday the 10th through to the morning of Wednesday the 19th, is a real desert. The swell mostly stays small, between 1 ft and 4 ft, and the wind is often cross-onshore, making things choppy. Combined energy levels are moderate (up to 807) but the waves are just messy and weak. The best you’ll see in that period is a few “marginal” sessions, like Tuesday morning the 11th with a 1 ft SW swell and a long 18-second period, or Friday the 14th when the swell gets to 3 ft and the period hits 18 seconds again. The energy is moderate (638), but it’s a groundswell with a long period, which can be a bit tricky at a river mouth, but it does mean better shape. The wind is offshore most of the time, so the surface might be clean, but the size is just tiny.

The real standout, if you’re patient, is the period from Thursday the 14th to Saturday the 16th. The swell builds to 4 ft from the SW on Saturday the 15th, with a 16-second period and combined energy hitting 807. This is the biggest, most powerful swell of the run. But, and it’s a big but, the wind goes cross-onshore, so the waves will be bumpy. It’s a classic case of “there’s swell, but the wind is mucking it up.” This is strictly for the die-hards and experts. For a beginner, any swell over 5 ft is too big, so this is pushing the limit.

From the 17th onward, it’s back to the same old story: small, weak, and mostly poor. The swell drops back to 2 ft to 3 ft, and the period shortens. The combined energy is weak to moderate (337 to 483). The wind is light and offshore on a few mornings, like the 18th and 21st, but the waves are just not there. The last week, from the 22nd to the 24th, is a complete washout with tiny 1 ft to 2 ft swells, and the wind is cross-onshore again.

The bottom line: The best shot you’ve got is the Saturday the 15th, with that 4 ft SW swell, but you’ll be fighting the wind. If you’re a glass-half-full kind of surfer, the mornings of the 14th and 15th offer the best chance at a clean, if small, wave. The period from the 10th to the 14th is a write-off. There’s a long gap of poor conditions, but the area is consistent, so it won’t stay this way forever. For now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more