Ano Nuevo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the surf on the horizon.

Ano Nuevo is our only show in town – a beach and reef mix. Right now through Sunday (July 26) and the first part of the week, we’ve got swell around 1.0 ft to 1 ft, coming from the SSW with a real long 19 second period – that’s deep water groundswell. The combined energy is moderate (903 on Sunday morning, 687 in the afternoon). But the wind is a cross-shore from the NW at 15-18 mph, and it’s creating lumpy, messy conditions. The water’s sitting at 15°, a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. Bottom line: poor surf quality. Don’t bother.

Monday through Thursday (July 27-30) is more of the same dirty cross-shore wind, with swell heights staying between 0.9 ft and 1 ft. The energy spikes a bit (1051 Monday arvo, 1230 Wednesday morning), but the 18-20 mph wind makes it choppy. There’s a gap of a few days here where it’s not worth suiting up.

Friday July 31 brings a change: a 2 ft swell from the WNW, but with a short 8-second period – that’s windswell, not groundswell. Wind eases to 9 mph cross-shore, and conditions are marginal. Saturday August 1 has a 2 ft NW swell in the morning with 8-second period and a moderate 12 mph cross-wind. Energy is strong (1026), but it’s all bumpy windswell.

The best of the bunch is Sunday August 3 morning: a 1 ft WNW swell with a more reasonable 10-second period, and the wind drops to a light 6 mph cross-onshore. The combined energy is moderate (400) and it’s the cleanest we get – small wind ripples, not great, but manageable. This is the pick of a weak bunch.

Monday August 4 through Wednesday August 6, the swell fades to 1.0 ft or less, with light cross-onshore winds. It’s small and weak (energy down to 196). Thursday August 7 through Saturday August 9 sees a tiny bump from 0.6 ft to 0.8 ft, with light winds but mostly onshore or cross-onshore. Nothing to write home about.

Honestly, this 16-day window is a write-off for quality paddle surfing at Ano Nuevo. The wind is never clean, the swell is either short-period windswell or long-period groundswell with bad wind. The spot is inconsistent and rarely breaks well, and this stretch confirms it. For the kite surfers, there’s moderate cross-wind energy through the first week, so that’s a better bet. But for a surfer looking for a wave? Put the board away and wait.

Rusty.

Read more