Californias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – this outlook is a tough one for the region. We’re looking at a long, flat spell before anything worth paddling out for shows up.

Right now, and for the next week and a half, it’s pretty much a desert out there. From Thursday the 23rd of July all the way through to Sunday the 2nd of August, there’s just nothing doing. We’re talking tiny, weak windswell – if you can even call it that – with wave heights barely scraping 1 ft and energy readings that are next to nothing. The wind is all over the shop, and even when it goes glassy on Saturday the 26th, there’s simply no swell to push. The water temp is sitting at a warm 83°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit, but you won’t need a board either.

Now, the models are hinting at a big change, but it’s a long way off. The only real event in this whole 16-day window kicks off on Monday the 3rd of August. That’s a full week away, so treat this as a promising look, not a sure thing.

Californias is the only break on the cards, and it’s the one that’s going to fire. It’s a reef setup, so it handles direction well. The standout is going to be Tuesday the 4th of August. We’re looking at a proper groundswell from the East, with a very long period of 19 seconds and solid 6 ft of swell. The combined energy is going to be pumping strong. That’s big, powerful water. The wind is holding cross-off from the SE, keeping the line-up clean. This is a session for experienced surfers only – 6 ft on a reef with that kind of energy is no joke. Monday the 3rd is a good warm-up, with 4 ft and a 19-second period, but Tuesday is the true peak.

Be aware, this spot can get crowded, and with a run of flat days before it, you can bet the locals will be out. Also, a long-period swell like this (19 seconds) from the East can make a beach break close out, but on a reef like Californias, it should groom into some proper, long walls. The following days (5th to 7th) see the swell drop off and the wind turn ugly with storms and cross-chop, so don’t get too excited about the tail end.

The long and short of it: you’ve got a solid week of flat calm to get your gear ready, then a couple of days of proper, powerful, expert-level surf at Californias. Don’t hold your breath for anything else.

Rusty.

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