Californias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Californias. I gotta be straight with you – this forecast is a bit of a grind. We’re looking at a 16-day window, but the first real surfable day doesn’t crop up until the morning of Sunday the 6th of September, and even then, it’s marginal.

The pattern overall is one of on-again, off-again wind and a whole lot of very ordinary conditions. We start with a risk of thunderstorms and a 12 mph WSW wind on Saturday afternoon, pushing a 7 ft swell from the west, but with a short 8-second period and poor surf. It’s a write-off.

Sunday the 6th of September is the first real chance. The morning brings a fresh offshore breeze from the NE at 19 mph, which is a major positive for clean lines. The swell is 6 ft from the NE with a 9-second period. The combined energy is moderate (479). It’s not a standout, but it’s the best we’ve got early on. The wind is clean, and the break is fairly consistent for a reef, though crowds are often a thing here. The water temperature is 83°, which is about average for the time of year.

The next glimmer comes on Thursday the 10th of September, in the afternoon. We’ve got a 5 ft wave from the north with a 9-second period and a cross-off wind from the ESE at 12 mph. The combined energy jumps to moderate (415). It’s a marginal forecast, but clean.

Honestly, nothing in this period is a true standout. The swell never really gets above 7 ft, and the period hangs around 7 to 9 seconds most of the time – not that long-period groundswell that gets you excited. The best of the bunch is probably that Sunday morning session on the 6th, with the clean offshore wind. If you’re an advanced surfer, that 6 ft at a reef break like Californias is manageable, but for beginners, it’s a bit much.

There’s a long gap of very poor-to-no surf from the 12th of September onwards, with swell heights dropping to 0.7 ft or even flat by the 20th. The combined energy plummets to two-digit weak numbers (12 to 14) by the end. The second week is a real snoozer.

So, I’d peg Sunday the 6th of September morning as your best bet, and maybe the Thursday 10th afternoon as a consolation. Keep your expectations low, and remember: forecasts can change, but this one looks pretty locked in for a flat spell.

Rusty.

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