Californias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking in from the water’s edge. Gotta be straight with you – the next two weeks look like a tough stretch for Californias. Let’s break it down.

The first week and a half is a real flat spell. From Friday the 17th right through to Tuesday the 28th, we’re looking at a long run of tiny, weak surf. The combined wave energy is mostly in the low double digits, with the odd reading hitting 71, but that’s still very weak. Swell heights barely reach 3ft, and the periods are short, mostly between 7 and 8 seconds. The water’s a bit colder than average for this time of year at 81°, which feels a bit unusual for July. Forget about scoring – it’s a write-off for paddling. The only thing worth noting is that Wednesday the 22nd through Saturday the 25th offer some glassy to clean conditions, but with nothing to ride, it’s just a pretty picture.

Then things take a wild turn. From Tuesday the 28th, the swell starts to build, but it’s messy. We get a pulse of 6ft to 6ft on Tuesday, but it’s short-period, wind-affected junk from the NNE. The real drama kicks off Wednesday the 29th. A massive swell arrives, with the combined energy reading 6841 on Wednesday morning, then 7079 Wednesday afternoon. Heights go from 10ft to 18ft, and the period stretches to 15 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. This swell is way too big for this spot, especially for most of us. The wind is cross to cross-onshore, making it sloppy. Thursday the 30th is enormous – 25ft to 31ft from the WNW, with a 12-second period. The energy is off the charts at 33757. It’s spectacular to look at, but it’s way over the head for anyone but the most experienced, and even then, the wind and tide conditions are not ideal. Friday the 31st still has huge 25ft and 16ft sets, with the wind cross-shore. The standout moment comes on Saturday the 1st of August. The swell drops to a more manageable 10ft in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon, from the NW with a 12-second period. The wind turns cross-offshore, and the conditions are clean. This is the best on offer. The combined energy is still strong at 2770 and 1868. This is a solid day for experienced surfers who can handle a big, powerful reef break. The crowd profile is ‘often’, so expect company.

Overall, the only real window to get excited about is Saturday the 1st of August. Everything before that is flat, and the mid-week mega-swell is too dangerous for most. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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