Californias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m lookin’ at the next couple of weeks for our spot here.

First up, we’ve got a bit of a slow start, but things are about to get interesting. Monday the 3rd is just a teaser, with a small, clean 3ft easterly groundswell at 15 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore, and the water is a touch warmer than normal at 86°, so it’s a nice little session for the patient ones, but it’s not the main event.

The real action kicks off on Tuesday the 4th of August. The swell builds to 4ft from the east, and the period jumps to a very long 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and the combined energy is already solid (733). By Tuesday afternoon, we’re looking at 4ft, still from the east, with a 17-second period, and the wind swings offshore. That’s clean, lined-up waves. The energy is strong (1009), and this is the highlight of the early window. It’s a reef break, so it’ll handle that long-period energy well, but remember, that long gap between sets gives you time to paddle out.

Wednesday the 5th sees the swell push up to 6ft in the morning, still east, with an 18-second period. The energy is cranking hard (1974), but the wind picks up to a moderate breeze, so it’s not as perfect as Tuesday. It’s still surfable, but the quality dips a little. By afternoon, the swell is 7ft, and the wind is getting stronger, so it’s a bit more of a battle.

Thursday the 6th is where it gets big. The swell hits 12ft from the east, period still 18 seconds, and the energy is massive (8538). The wind is a strong cross-offshore in the morning, so it’s still clean, but this is getting into expert territory. It’s a heavy, powerful wave. By Thursday afternoon, the wind turns cross-shore and the swell is still 12ft, but the energy is even higher (9438). The wind is howling, and it’s not looking good for a paddle.

Then Friday the 7th, the swell explodes. The morning shows 26ft from the NNW, with a short 12-second period, and the wind is a storm-force cross-shore. The energy is insane (24983), but it’s a complete mess. This is not for surfing. This is for watching from the cliffs. The afternoon is even worse, with 38ft and hurricane-force winds. Absolutely dangerous.

Saturday the 8th is still huge, with 33ft onshore swell in the morning, but the wind drops to a gentle breeze. The problem is it’s onshore and the swell is massive. Still too big. By afternoon, the swell drops off a cliff to nothing, and the wind is cross-onshore. It’s a write-off.

From Sunday the 9th through to the end of the forecast, it’s a grim run. The swell drops to tiny 1.0ft, but the wind is relentless, with hurricane-force and violent storm-force winds. The energy is weak (42 to 67), and it’s just a windy, messy, dangerous stretch. There’s a few days of tiny, clean waves around the 13th and 14th, with 2ft to 2ft and glassy conditions, but it’s barely surfable. The energy is weak (56 to 82).

The best bet, without a doubt, is Tuesday the 4th of August, morning and afternoon, at Californias. That 4ft to 4ft east swell, with a 17 to 18-second period, and offshore wind, is the standout. It’s clean, it’s got power, and it’s a proper reef wave. The second best is the Monday morning of the 3rd, but it’s just a warm-up. Everything after the 6th is either too big, too windy, or too small. Hang in there, and keep an eye on the long-range for the 17th and 18th, where some cleaner, smaller east swell might show up, but it’s too far out to count on.

Rusty.

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