Ano Nuevo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, I’ll be straight with you—this outlook for Ano Nuevo is a tough one. The entire 16-day window is a bit of a grind, with the first recommendation not showing up until Thursday, July 24th. Before that, we’re looking at a solid 10-day stretch of poor surf conditions. The wind is almost always cross or cross-on, and the wave quality is just not there. The swell is weak at first, below 100 (309) up to moderate (978) in the middle, but the wind messes it up every time. It’s a classic case of the ocean offering something, but the wind taking it away.

The water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so a spring suit will be fine if you’re patient.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Friday, July 24th, in the afternoon. That’s the standout window. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW, but the period is a very long 24 seconds—that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is strong (952), and the kicker is the wind: glassy. For Ano Nuevo (beach and reef), a long-period SSW swell with glassy conditions is about as good as it gets in this run. The waves will be clean, but remember, this is an advanced spot that’s inconsistent, so don’t expect a ton of waves. It’ll be a session for the patient charger.

The next morning, Saturday, July 25th, the swell picks up to 5ft from the S, still with a decent 16-second period, and the energy is very strong (1935). But the wind is cross from the WNW, putting a bit of a chop on it. It’s a marginal call, but if you’re an expert, the morning might offer a few solid ones before it gets messy.

After that, the surf fades and the wind stays tricky. The last week of the run is mostly poor and cross-on, with a few marginal moments but nothing to get excited about. The period is long, but the wind just won’t let it be clean.

So, bottom line: if you’re a seasoned local and you can wait until Friday the 24th for that glassy, long-period sweet spot, you might score a couple of gems. Beginners, give this one a miss for the whole 16 days—it’s too inconsistent and mostly too challenging. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most days.

Stay patient, and keep checking the charts.

Rusty.

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