Domes (Rincon) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about the next couple of weeks. I’ve been staring at the charts for Domes (Rincon), and I gotta be straight with you—it’s looking pretty flat and grim for the most part. There’s a long stretch of nothing on the horizon, and I’m not gonna sugarcoat it.

The first real pulse of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Thursday the 13th. We finally see a jump in the energy, with the combined swell energy hitting 165, which is a decent little kick. The swell is from the NE at 4ft, but the period is only 7 seconds, so it’s a bit of a short-period, wind-driven kinda wave. It’s not going to be a thing of beauty, but it’s the first sign of life. The wind is cross-off and light, so it might be clean enough to get a few if you’re desperate.

Then we get a tease on Friday the 14th in the morning. The swell is 3ft from the NE with a 7-second period. It’s surfable, but “very ordinary” is the kindest thing I can say about it. The afternoon bumps up to 4ft, but the wind picks up to 12 mph, which will chop it up a bit.

The standout, if you can call it that, is Saturday the 15th in the morning. The swell jumps to 6ft from the ENE, with a 7-second period. The combined energy is 249, which is the strongest we see in this whole window. It’s a proper push of water for the first time. The wind is cross-off at 9 mph, so it should be reasonably clean. Now, 6ft isn’t huge, but for this stretch, it’s the best on offer. It’s a lot of short-period energy, so it might be a bit walled-up, but it's the one morning where you’ll actually feel like you’re surfing something with a bit of push. The afternoon, the wind cranks up to 19 mph from the ENE, making it a complete mess. Forget the paddle, that’s kite-surfing wind.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The 16th and 17th are basically flat, with tiny swells and weak energy. There’s a small bump on the 17th morning at 4ft, but the period is only 6 seconds, so it’ll be soft and crumbly. Not worth the effort.

So, what’s the call? The water temp is 84°, which is about 1° above average for this time of year—nothing wild, just a touch warm. The surf, though, is the story. This is a long, drawn-out period of poor conditions. The one day that stands out is Saturday the 15th. It’s not a classic, but it’s the only time the ocean shows any real intent. If you’re a beginner, 6ft might be a touch much, but it’s not out of control. For everyone else, it’s the one to circle.

The rest of the window is a whole lot of nothing. You’ll see glassy mornings with no swell, and afternoons with cross-shore ripples. It’s a tough stretch for surfers. But the good news is, Domes is a consistent spot, so this kind of dead run doesn’t usually last forever. The forecasts can change, but right now, I’d be planning on a lie-in for most of the next two weeks.

Stay patient.

Rusty

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