Ano Nuevo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you on this one – it’s a tough stretch ahead for Ano Nuevo (sheltered beach and reef setup). The whole 16-day window is basically a write-off for any kind of decent paddle surf. The water’s a touch warmer than normal at 59.2°F right now, but that's about the only bright spot.

We kick off on Wednesday the 22nd of July with a 3-ft SSW swell, period of 14 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 493, but a fresh cross-shore wind from the WNW at 12 mph is just chopping it all up. That sets the tone. Day after day it’s the same story: clean skies but constant cross-shore winds, mostly from the NW at 15-19 mph, turning any half-decent bump into a lumpy mess. The swell heights hover around 2.3-ft to 3.6-ft for the first week, but the "poor surf conditions" label sticks. The 24th of July has a very long period of 24 seconds from the SSW, giving a moderate energy of 810, but those winds ruin any chance of a clean face. It would be breaking too straight for this beach and reef setup anyway.

Towards the end of July and into the first days of August, we see some bigger lumps. On the 30th of July, a 5.2-ft WNW swell with a short period of 8 seconds rolls in, but it’s still cross-shore and messy. By the 31st of July, we get a 5.6-ft NW windswell—still short period at 8 seconds, still a cross wind. This is kite-surfing territory, not for a paddle board. The wind state is described as "fresh cross-shore with lumpy cross-chop" most afternoons.

The only time we see any glimmer of potential is around the 4th of August. Tuesday morning on the 4th has a 6.6-ft WNW swell with a period of 10 seconds, moderate energy at 964, but a light cross-onshore breeze. Not clean. That afternoon, the swell pumps up to a solid 9.8-ft from the NW with an 11-second period and a combined energy of 2663—strong wave energy. But again, a moderate cross-shore wind from the WNW at 12 mph keeps it sloppy. Even then, the forecast gives it a marginal rating, meaning the tide or conditions just won’t line up for a good session. Frankly, a 9.8-ft wave with this wind is a washing machine for experts only, and the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing given the strong cross-breeze.

After the 4th, it fades back to weak, short-period WNW windswell with more fresh cross-shore winds. There is a single marginal rating on the morning of the 3rd of August (5.9-ft, 10-second period, light cross-onshore wind), but it’s nothing to get excited about.

In short, this whole sixteen days is a blank run. No standouts, no hidden gems. Ano Nuevo is an inconsistent spot at the best of times, and this forecast is a classic example of why. Keep the board in the car and wait for a proper southerly groundswell with some offshore easterlies.

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