Ano Nuevo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

IMPERIAL UNITS

G’day, Rusty here. Well, it’s a bit of a flat-out bummer for the next week or so at Ano Nuevo. We’ve got a long stretch of real ordinary conditions coming up, with the first decent chance not showing up until the tail end of the 16-day window. That’s a solid week or more of mostly poor surf, with a few marginal mornings thrown in but nothing you’d paddle out for.

We kick off the run of marginal possibilities on Friday morning, 28 August. The ocean is serving up a 3ft SSW swell with a long 17-second period, combining for moderate wave energy (535). Now, the wind is coming from the NW at 6 mph – a light cross-shore – so it’s not all bad, but the wave comment calls it marginal, suggesting questionable tide conditions. That long period (over 15 seconds) is a groundswell, which can mean better shaped waves but can also make things a bit tricky at beach breaks, making it better suited to the reef here. It’s not a standout, just a flicker of hope.

The real potential, and the only thing I’d circle on the calendar, is on Thursday morning, 3 September. The swell climbs to 2ft from the SSW, with a very long 19-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is moderate at 466, and with the NW wind dropping to a light 6 mph cross-shore, the surface will be cleaner than what we’ve been seeing. It’s still marginal, and with that long period, the sets will be more spaced, so you’ll have to sit patiently. The direction is SW for the optimum, and we’re getting SSW, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the best on offer.

Friday morning, 4 September, keeps the hope alive with a 3ft SSW swell at 17 seconds (combined energy moderate at 690). Light 6 mph winds from the W – that's a light cross-onshore, so not glassy, but it’s still surfable and rates as marginal. The following morning, Saturday 5 September, shows a 3ft swell from the SSW with a 16-second period and combined energy moderate at 671. The wind turns light and onshore from the SW, which is about the best wind direction for this spot.

For the whole run, the water temperature at the start sits at 60° with a 2° anomaly – that’s a touch warmer than the long-term average for this time of year, not a huge deal but a nice little bonus.

Bottom line: it’s a long wait with nothing clean and consistent, but the 3rd and 4th of September mornings are your best bet for a sneaky session. Keep an eye on the tides. Stay patient.

– Rusty

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