Surf Forecasts:
4 Mile surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 18s period, SSW swell with 697 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for 4 Mile this week:
The surf forecast for 4 Mile over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at 4 Mile in the next 16 days are 1.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 14s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 4 Mile over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks down at 4 Mile.
Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – it's a slow start. The first week or so is looking pretty average, with only small, marginal waves and a lot of cross-shore or cross-onshore wind messing up the surface. The best of the early stuff is a bit of a trade-off.
We kick off on Sunday, August 30th, with a small, long-period groundswell from the SSW. It's about 4 ft with a very long 16-second period, so there's plenty of energy in the water (946 combined energy). But the wind is from the WNW at 9 mph, putting it cross-shore and creating a bit of a cross-chop. It's surfable for the advanced crew, but it's not gonna be a clean, glassy day. The afternoon drops a touch in size and the wind picks up, making it a bit more of a struggle.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are all pretty much the same story – small surf, under 3 ft, and mostly cross-onshore winds. The waves are there, but the quality is poor. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about.
Now, we get a little glimmer of hope on Friday, September 4th. The morning sees a 3 ft SSW swell with an 18-second period, giving it some real punch (884 combined energy). The wind is still cross-shore from the WNW at 9 mph, so it's not perfect, but it's the best looking session in that first week. The afternoon goes to crap with a strong 16 mph cross-shore wind, so aim for the dawn patrol.
The real standout, the one you need to circle on your calendar, is the morning of Sunday, September 7th. The swell is a modest 3 ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, but the magic is in the wind. It's glassy. Dead flat calm. The combined energy is moderate (481), but with those conditions, 4 Mile is going to be clean, smooth, and offering up some proper lines. That is your best bet for the whole run, hands down. The next morning on Monday, September 8th, is also looking glassy with a similar 3 ft swell, but the crowds are likely to be out after the good Sunday session.
After that, the forecast gets a bit more uncertain. We have a bit of a pulse of energy on Wednesday, September 10th, with 4 ft of S swell, but the wind is a problem. Then on Saturday, September 13th, we see a late-season NW swell showing up at 6 ft, but it's a short-period, windswell-type signal (9 seconds) from the NW, which is way off the optimum SSW direction. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it might offer a few lumpy, beach-break style waves, but it's a long way out and not something to bet the farm on.
So, to wrap it up: the first week is a grind. The second week has one shining, glassy morning on the 7th that will be worth the wait. After that, there's potential for a change in the pattern around the 12th, but it's too far out to get excited about yet.
Stay frosty, and I'll see you out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
554 | 411 | 400 | 325 | 226 | 156 | 154 | 154 | 123 | 135 | 103 | 246 | 415 | 348 | 497 | 697 | 518 | 597 | 469 | 539 | 422 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross | off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:37PM1.92m | 00:49AM1.72m | 1:06PM1.98m | 1:46AM1.57m | 1:40PM2.02m | 2:57AM1.43m | 2:22PM2.04m | 4:33AM1.35m | 3:16PM2.05m | 6:27AM1.36m | 4:24PM2.06m | 7:51AM1.44m | 5:40PM2.09m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:51PM0.71m | 6:43AM0.74m | 7:44PM0.64m | 7:12AM0.89m | 8:45PM0.59m | 7:45AM1.04m | 9:55PM0.53m | 8:26AM1.17m | 11:13PM0.46m | 9:30AM1.28m | 00:28AM0.37m | 11:09AM1.33m | 1:32AM0.26m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 15 | WNW 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
138 | 411 | 163 | 149 | 226 | 156 | 154 | 154 | 98 | 135 | 90 | 246 | 415 | 348 | 175 | 697 | 518 | 597 | 469 | 539 | 422 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 14 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SSE 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 18 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 10 | WNW 10 |
554 | 2 | 400 | 325 | 39 | 42 | 29 | 41 | 123 | 87 | 103 | 117 | 127 | 86 | 497 | 154 | 154 | 118 | 116 | 58 | 60 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | — | SSE 14 | S 14 | W 10 | S 13 | SSE 12 | SW 18 | SSE 11 | WNW 10 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 18 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSE 12 | SSW 10 |
6 | — | 19 | 33 | 8 | 81 | 46 | 81 | 40 | 38 | 23 | 32 | 59 | 6 | 152 | 85 | 123 | 119 | 91 | 14 | 37 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | W 4 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — |
— | 128 | — | — | 113 | — | — | 21 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 99 | — | — | — | — | — | 143 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 13 | 0 | 326 | 17 | 0 | 210 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 51 | 13 | 0 | 112 | 19 | 0 | 10 | 17 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the 4 Mile Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for 4 Mile provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at 4 Mile can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our 4 Mile surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (4 Mile) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for 4 Mile may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
4 Mile is 12 km (7 miles) from Santa Cruz. If you plan a vacation in Santa Cruz, look for hotels and other accommodation in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











