Tijuana Sloughs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it for the Tijuana Sloughs stretch. Honestly, the next couple of weeks are lookin' like a tricky run. We've got a solid pulse of swell coming, but the wind and the size are going to make it a game of picking your moment. It’s not all bad news though; there are a couple of windows where it could be pretty special.

Right off the bat, the water's sitting at a balmy 74°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. You’ll be good in a spring suit or maybe just a top.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Sunday the 30th of August, but it's a bit of a tease. We’ve got a 3ft SSW swell with 14-second periods, a nice long period groundswell, pushing moderate wave energy (680). Problem is, it's blowing onshore with a light W breeze, so it'll be a bit lumpy. There's a mention of questionable tide, so it's a "maybe" at best. The next few days through to Thursday the 3rd of September are a write-off. Swell drops off to 2-2ft and the wind stays cross-onshore, creating poor, choppy conditions.

Now, Friday the 4th of September shows a little flicker. The swell bumps back up to 4ft from the SW, period stretching to 17 seconds. Combined energy is climbing to a strong 724. The wind swings onshore from the WSW, but it's light. Still, it's only rated as marginal.

The standout window, and what I'd be aiming for, is Saturday the 5th of September. We see the swell building to 5ft from the S early, hitting 5ft in the afternoon, with that lovely 14-second period. Combined energy jumps to a very strong 1329 and then 1442. The wind is the key – in the morning, it's glassy with an almost non-existent WSW breeze. The afternoon clocking around to a NNW cross-shore. It's a bit of a session for the patient, as the conditions are called marginal, but with that size, period, and light wind early, this is the best chance for a fun, clean wave at the Sloughs. If the tide lines up, grab it.

Sunday the 6th is a mix. We get a bigger 8ft S swell in the morning with strong NNE cross-offshore winds – the wave face will be clean. However, the energy is pumping at 2581. That's getting up there in size, into more expert territory. The afternoon gets wild with a 43 mph SSE gale, so that's a skip.

But the true big one, the one to mark on your calendar for the more experienced crew, is Monday the 7th of September. The forecast is for a massive 15ft S swell with 12-second period. The combined energy is an enormous 5573. The morning wind is a light NW cross-onshore. The notes say it might be too big for this break, which is a huge caveat. This is strictly for experts on big-wave gear, and you'd want to know the Sloughs inside out. The afternoon drops to 12ft with a moderate cross-onshore, still massive.

The rest of the run from Tuesday the 8th of September onward fades fast. The swell drops back down to 5ft and then to waist-high leftovers for the second week. Winds stay mostly cross-onshore or onshore. There are a few morning sessions on the 11th and 12th of September with a light onshore breeze and a 3ft SW groundswell, but the energy is weak to moderate, and it's hard to get excited about it.

So, to sum it up: it's a waiting game. Saturday the 5th of September is your best bet for a clean, solid session for most of you. For the big-dog crew, Monday the 7th of September could be a monster, but only if you've got the stones and the right board.

Stay safe and read the tide charts.
Rusty

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