Ano Nuevo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve had a good look at what’s coming our way for Ano Nuevo. Honestly, it’s a tough stretch for paddle surfing. This is a sheltered, advanced spot that rarely lines up clean, and the forecast shows a lot of wind and chop messing things up.

We’ve got no surf worth mentioning right now. Things start to look a little more interesting around Wednesday the 26th, but even then, it’s touch and go.

For the first week and a half, the dominant wind is cross-shore from the NW, and that’s the main issue. Even when there’s a long-period 3ft groundswell from the SSW on the 15th and 16th, the wind is up, and the water is messy. The combined energy is moderate, around 563, but the surf quality is poor. That pattern holds through to the 25th, with waves in the 2ft to 6ft range, but with a consistent cross-chop from the moderate to fresh breezes. The period drops right off from the 22nd, down to 8 seconds, so it’s just short-period wind swell, and that’s pretty average.

Things might get a pulse on Wednesday the 26th morning. Swell direction swings to a long-period 4ft S groundswell with a 16-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1413, which is getting into that stronger range. Wind is light from the WNW, so it’s cross-onshore but with only small ripples. It’s still a marginal call, just a 2 out of 10 vibe, but it’s the first hint of something workable if you’re an advanced local.

Thursday the 27th morning is similar, with a 4ft S swell at 15 seconds, and the energy climbs to 1730. Wind is gentle cross-shore. This could be the best of the run, with a bit more size and still that long-period energy that helps the shape, but it’s a beach-and-reef setup, so those long-period S swells can break a bit straight. Still, with light wind, it’s the cleanest window we get.

Then from Friday the 28th, the swell jumps for the experts. We’ve got 8ft of NW swell on the morning, with the period shortening to 10 seconds. The energy is very strong at 2643. But the wind is moderate cross-shore, and with that size, it’s only for the crew who know what they’re doing. It stays big but bumpy through to the 30th, with the wind freshening again in the afternoons.

So, if I’m picking a standout, it’s the morning of Thursday the 27th August. That 4ft south swell with a gentle cross-shore breeze will be the cleanest we see, with good energy in the water. The other slim chance is Saturday the 23rd August morning– the swell hits 5ft from the NW, but with a short 8-second period and moderate cross-shore winds, it’s not exactly glassy. It’s more of a heads-up for the advanced crew.

For most of this run, the onshore flow and cross-chop mean the setup actually looks better for kite surfing than a paddle session. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Keep an eye on that last week. It’s not looking great right now, but forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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