Californias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe for Californias.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next week or so is a bit of a write-off. We’re looking at a real flat spell kicking off Friday the 31st, with nothing but tiny 0.7ft dribblers and glassy conditions. The combined energy is sitting at a measly 7, so it’s basically a lake out there. That flatness stretches all the way through Sunday the 4th of August. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Then things start to get interesting, but it’s a bit of a cruel tease. From Monday the 5th morning, an easterly groundswell starts to build. By Tuesday the 6th afternoon, we’ve got a solid 5ft swell from the east (19 second period) pushing through. The combined energy jumps to 1762, which is a good sign of real power. The wind is offshore from the north-northeast, keeping the faces clean. This is the standout window, but the caveat is the guidance calls it "marginal" due to tide. It’s a reef break, and that long period (19 secs) groundswell will be lining up nicely, though it might be a bit straight for the beachies. Wednesday the 7th gets even bigger, with 7ft to 8ft east swell and those same clean offshore winds, though the energy is ramping up fast (3100 to 4834). This is getting into advanced territory, and it’s a solid session for the experienced crew.

Now, hold onto your boards. By Friday the 9th of August, the model is showing a pulse of massive north swell hitting 41ft with a 14 second period. That’s a combined energy of 62070 – we’re talking serious, volatile power. The wind is offshore from the east-northeast, which is ideal, but the swell is just too colossal. It’s predicted to be too big for this break. Unless you’re a tow-in specialist, this is a hard pass. It’s a "ridiculous to paddle into" situation. The following days see that swell drop quickly, but it stays messy and windy with strong cross-shore winds, making it more of a kitesurfing show than a paddle session through the 10th and 11th.

After that, we fade back into small, weak easterly pulses for the second week. The 12th through the 15th see tiny 2ft to 1ft waves with long periods but almost no energy (combined energy in the 40-150 range). The winds go light offshore, so it’s clean, but there’s just no push. It’s a long-range flat spell for the end of the window.

So, to wrap it up: the real action is Tuesday the 6th and Wednesday the 7th of August. That’s your best bet. The east swell with clean offshore wind will be working, but it’s for the advanced crew as it gets bigger. The rest of the window is either flat or dangerously oversized.

Rusty.

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