Ano Nuevo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The outlook for the next 16 days is a real mixed bag. We’ve got a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions ahead, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel if you’re patient.

The first real chance of a wave comes on Tuesday, 18 August at Ano Nuevo. This is a sheltered beach and reef setup, and it’s for advanced surfers only. It’s an inconsistent spot, so when it’s on, it’s a treat, but it rarely breaks. The swell is tiny, just 3ft from the SSW. That’s a long-period groundswell at 15 seconds, which is great for the reef, but the energy is moderate (381). The wind is a cross-shore from the NW at 12 mph, which is going to put a chop on the surface. Water temps are about average for the time of year.

The rest of the first week and into the second is a bit of a write-off. From Tuesday through to the end of the month, we’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions. The wind is mostly a moderate to fresh cross-shore, keeping things lumpy and messy. Swell heights bounce around from 2ft to 5ft, but the wave comment is consistently “poor surf conditions.” The energy is weak to moderate at best, with values mostly in the 200s and 300s. There’s nothing to get excited about here.

Now, Wednesday, 26 August shows a bit more size. The morning kicks off with a 7ft swell from the NW, but it’s short-period at 8 seconds. The wave energy is strong (1130), but the wind is a moderate cross-shore at 12 mph, so it’s going to be a cross-chop mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one. The afternoon drops to 6ft but the wind picks up to 18 mph, making it even worse. The rest of that week and into the beginning of September is a real grind. The swell is there, sometimes over 5ft, but the wind is relentless, and the conditions are just poor.

The one standout, and the only one I’d call a true highlight, is Monday, 31 August. The morning brings a 6ft NW swell, again short-period at 8 seconds. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the WSW at just 3 mph, which is almost glassy. The energy is strong (1077). This is the best looking window in the whole 16 days. It’s still a bit short-period for the reef, and at 6ft, it’s pushing into the “too big for beginners” range, but for the advanced crew, that morning session could be the one to wait for. The rest of that day and into September returns to the same poor, choppy story.

So, to sum it up: a long, flat, and choppy run with one promising morning on the 31st of August. Keep an eye on that one.

Rusty.

Read more