Tijuana Sloughs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ at Tijuana Sloughs. Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this isn’t one for the highlight reel. We’ve got a long, drawn-out run of mostly small, choppy surf with a lot of cross-onshore wind messin’ things up. The water’s sitting at a very unusual 73°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – feels more like a bath than the Pacific.

We’re looking at a stretch that starts Friday the 28th of August. The swell is there, but it’s weak and the conditions are rough. Friday morning has a tiny 2ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period, and combined energy is low at 393. The wind is light and onshore, so it’s not a total washout, but the forecast calls it marginal. This is a river mouth spot, and that long-period swell can sometimes line up nice, but not with the wind and size we’ve got.

Saturday the 29th bumps up a bit – 4ft to 4ft of SSW swell, still with that nice 15 to 16-second period. The combined energy climbs to a moderate 887 by the afternoon. But here’s the rub: the wind swings WNW and goes cross-onshore, making it choppy. It’s not gonna be pretty.

Through the rest of the first week and into the second, it’s more of the same. The swell sticks around 2ft to 4ft, but it’s plagued by cross-onshore winds. The period drops to 12-13 seconds later on, losing that groundswell magic. Thursday the 3rd of September has a late-day pulse with an 18-second period and combined energy hitting 865, but again, the wind is cross-onshore and the call is poor.

There’s one moment that almost gets interesting. Friday morning the 4th of September shows a 3ft SSW swell with a 17-second period and combined energy jumping to a strong 1110. That’s the biggest energy we see. But the wind is still cross-onshore, and the forecast only gives it a marginal nod. For a spot like this that needs clean, lined-up swell, that cross-offshore angle is a killer.

After that, it fades back into the same pattern: small waves, cross-onshore breeze, and poor to marginal conditions all the way through to Saturday the 12th of September. There’s really no standout session in this window. The consistent onshore flow and small size mean this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Honestly, this is a tough 16-day run. There are no gems here. If you’re desperate, the best bet is the Friday morning of the 4th of September – the energy is there, but don’t expect perfection. Otherwise, keep an eye on the forecasts; it can’t stay poor forever.

Rusty.

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