Ano Nuevo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m gonna be straight with you: this stretch at Ano Nuevo is a tough one. The swell is there, but the wind is just not playing ball. It’s mostly cross-shore or cross-onshore, and that’s creating a whole lot of chop and messy conditions. For the first week or so, we’ve got a consistent groundswell from the SSW, around 3 ft, with a long period of 15 seconds. That long period means there’s energy, but at a beach and reef setup like this, it can make things a bit too straight and fat, and you’ll be waiting for the sets. The combined energy is moderate, hitting numbers like 449 (Sunday afternoon) and up to 554 later in the week, but with poor surf conditions flagged each day, it’s not giving us clean waves.

The water is sitting at 61°F, which is a touch warmer than what’s normal for this time of year – a nice little bonus if you’re in a spring suit. But the wind is the real villain here. We’ve got a steady northwest flow, 9 to 19 mph, and it’s just constantly cross or cross-on, ruining any chance of a smooth face. The swell does bump up a bit around the 20th, with a WNW swell at 4 ft, but with a short period of only 8 seconds and fresh cross-shore winds at 19 mph, it’ll be lumpy and for experts only. The setup honestly starts to look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing during those stronger wind days.

There’s a glimmer on the 28th, with a SSW groundswell at 3 ft and a 17-second period. The combined energy is 404, and it’s flagged as "marginal" rather than "poor." The wind is still cross-shore, but a gentler 9 mph breeze might clean it up a little. That’s probably your best window, but even then, it’s not a standout. The crowds are listed as "sometimes" at Ano Nuevo, which means you might not be alone, but with conditions this average, it shouldn’t be too packed.

The real problem is the stretch of days from the 16th all the way through to the 31st. There are no true good surf options. The guidance doesn’t give any other spots to look at, so this is it. It’s a long run of poor conditions, with only a couple of days where it’s just "marginal." This area is known for being a bit inconsistent and sheltered, so a blank run like this isn’t totally out of the ordinary. Forecasts can change, but right now, don’t expect much.

Rusty.

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