4 Mile Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.99° N 122.16° W

4 Mile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 30 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's 4 Mile sea temperature is
14.8°C
0.1° 

4 Mile surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


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 TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sun 30th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Sun 30th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 14s
Most Powerful11AM (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 Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly 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
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
3
1
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
2
2
1
3
2
1
3
2
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SW
17
0.5
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
17
0.8
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
18
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
554
411
400
325
226
156
154
154
123
135
103
246
415
348
497
697
518
597
469
539
422
Wind (km/h)
15
WNW
20
WNW
10
NNW
10
WNW
20
WNW
10
NNW
10
SW
15
W
5
NNW
5
SSW
20
WNW
5
NNE
10
W
20
WNW
5
N
10
WSW
20
WNW
10
N
5
SW
20
WNW
10
N
Wind State
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
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:37
6:39
6:39
6:39
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
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
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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