Californias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a proper look at what's on the cards.

First off, I gotta be straight with you — it’s a slow start. For the rest of July and into the first day of August, we’re looking at flat, weak conditions at Californias. The swell energy is basically non-existent, with readings down in the single digits (0 to 8). Don’t even bother paddling out; it’s a total write-off for now.

Things start to flicker a little on the Sunday morning of the 2nd of August. We get a tiny pulse of 0.7ft from the east, with a very long period of 15 seconds, but the energy is still weak at just 17. It’s not enough to get excited about.

Now, here’s the first real glimmer of hope. Monday the 3rd of August morning, a proper east swell pushes in at 3ft, with a 16-second period. The combined energy jumps to 318, which is moderate. Winds are cross-off from the north at 9 mph, which will keep it clean. The water temp is sitting at 86°, which is about normal for this time of year. This is a promising start.

That swell builds into Tuesday the 4th of August. Morning sees 4ft from the east, period stretching to 18 seconds, with energy hitting 871. By the afternoon, it’s up to 5ft and the energy is strong at 1238. Winds stay cross-off from the north, so the conditions should be clean.

Wednesday the 5th of August is where it really starts to ramp up. Morning brings 6ft east swell, 18-second period, and energy of 2077. By the afternoon, it’s 6ft, 19-second period, and a very strong energy reading of 2551. The wind is still cross-off from the north, keeping things clean. This is getting serious.

The standout of the whole outlook, and the best on offer, is Thursday the 6th of August. We’re looking at a solid 8ft east swell in the morning with an 18-second period and energy surging to 3953. By the afternoon, it maxes out at 8ft from the east-northeast, 19-second period, and a massive energy reading of 4925. Now, the wind is cross-shore from the north-northwest, so there will be some texture on the face, but the power is undeniable. For experienced surfers, this is the day to target. This is a very long-period groundswell, which will wrap around the reef here, likely offering some solid, roping walls. Keep in mind, this much power and size means it’s for experienced crew only.

Things go downhill from Friday the 7th of August. A strong south-westerly change brings onshore winds of 25-28 mph, creating strong, messy, cross-onshore conditions with a jumbled 10-12ft swell. It stays poor and blown out through the weekend, with strong onshore winds and dropping swell.

By Monday the 10th of August, we get a reprieve. The wind swings to the east-southeast at 6-9 mph, giving us clean, cross-off conditions. The swell drops to a clean 5ft from the north-northwest, with a 12-second period and moderate energy of 670. This is a nice, clean, manageable size for a wider range of surfers.

That trend fades into the following days. The 11th of August offers smaller, surfable but ordinary 3ft waves, and by the 12th of August, we’re back down to tiny 1.0ft east swells with very low energy (28). The window has closed.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are flat. The real action is the build from the 5th to the 6th of August, with Thursday the 6th being the clear, powerful standout for the experienced. After that, it’s a washout until a smaller, clean window on the 10th of August. Keep your eyes on that Thursday, boys.

Rusty.

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