Californias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

The next 16 days start off with a quick little pulse on Thursday the 10th, but honestly, after that, it’s a long, flat spell that’s tough to get excited about. We’ll see a decent morning and afternoon session, then a real dry run from Friday through most of the following week. The second week has some size, but it’s going to be a wild, windy mess for most of it.

The standout is Thursday, September 10th at Californias. The reef will be handling a clean 5ft to 5ft swell from the north with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (306-397). The cross-offshore wind from the north-northeast is what you want – it’ll keep the faces clean and lined up. This is the best on offer, and it’s not a day to sleep in. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Friday the 11th drops off quick. Swell drops to 4ft in the morning and 3ft in the afternoon, with a risk of thunderstorms. The conditions are surfable but ordinary. The energy is weak (130-198). It’s a step down.

From Saturday the 12th through to Tuesday the 15th, it’s grim. Heights are down to 0.7ft to 2ft, period is short or long with no energy, and the ratings are poor. The wind stays light, but there’s just not enough swell to do anything with. There’s a glassy moment Tuesday afternoon with 2ft, but it’s weak and ordinary.

A brief window shows up on Thursday the 17th with a clean 2ft to 2ft from the east, light offshore wind, and weak energy (96-104). It’s just enough for a small-wave log, but nothing to write home about. Friday the 18th keeps the offshore wind but the swell is tiny.

The weekend of the 20th and 21st gets windy. Saturday the 20th has a cross-offshore breeze hitting 19-22 mph with a 3ft swell – messy. Sunday the 21st has a near-gale blowing 31-34 mph and a 6ft north swell, but the wind is just too strong. This setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Then things get wild. Monday the 22nd has a gale-force cross-onshore wind at 40 mph, an 8ft east swell with a very long 16-second period, and massive energy (4017). That’s expert-only territory, and it’s completely blown out. For a reef break like Californias, that long-period east swell could be interesting, but the wind is a total dealbreaker. Tuesday the 23rd is still messy with a fresh cross-shore wind and 7ft swell.

The final days, Wednesday the 24th and Thursday the 25th, drop back to small, clean, and utterly ordinary surf. The window closes with a whimper.

So, your best bet is Thursday the 10th. Get out early. After that, it’s a long wait for something that never quite comes together.

Rusty.

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