Tijuana Sloughs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee, this is Rusty. Looking at the next 16 days, it’s a story of a very brief flurry of action, followed by a whole lot of nothing. The first few days are the only ones with any real pulse, and after that, it’s a long, flat spell.

The only spot on the menu is Tijuana Sloughs, a river mouth that’s built for the advanced crew. It’s consistent, which is a plus, but it’s also fully exposed. The water is bathing at 73°F, which is *much warmer* than usual for this time of year – nearly 5°F above the norm, so you can ditch the heavy rubber.

The best chance we get is on Wednesday, July 29th, in the morning. We’re looking at a 4ft swell from the SSW, with a long, 16-second period. That’s proper groundswell, and at a river mouth, it should be lining up nicely. The combined energy is moderate at 871. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the WSW, so it won’t be glassy, but it won’t be a mess. This is the one to circle.

From the afternoon of the 29th, and through to Thursday, July 30th, the surf holds around 4ft from the same SSW direction, with a 15-16 second period, energy around 791-958. The wind stays light, but it’s onshore, making it a little bumpy.

By Friday, August 1st, the swell is fading fast. The morning of the 1st shows 3ft, and the energy drops to 426. It’s still surfable, but it’s on the way out.

Then it all goes quiet. From Sunday, August 2nd, all the way through to Thursday, August 13th, the surf is described as “poor.” The swell heights are tiny, mostly under 3ft, and the energy is weak, often below 300. The wind is light, but it’s onshore or cross-onshore, and the period gets weird. There’s a spike in period on the 7th and 10th with 19-20 second swells, but with only 2ft of height, it’s just not enough to do anything. For a consistent spot, this is a very long, dry spell.

On Wednesday, August 13th, in the afternoon, there’s a tiny flicker. The swell climbs back to 3ft from the SW, with a 16-second period and energy of 529. The wind is a light onshore. The forecast is calling it “marginal,” which is a step up from “poor,” but it’s still a long shot. That’s your long-range, “maybe” window.

Bottom line: if you can’t make it out on the morning of Wednesday the 29th, you’re looking at a very long wait. The near-term call is solid, so that’s your window. Everything else is just hoping for a change in the forecasts.

Rusty.

Read more