Surf Forecasts:
4 Mile surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 481 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s 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 16) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s is also forecast. 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 1.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 4 Mile over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, 4 Mile is the only game in town for the next couple of weeks. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Honestly, for the first week, it's looking pretty grim. We've got a very long-period SSW groundswell rolling in, but it's getting hammered by cross-shore winds. The energy is moderate (560) at best, but the combo of long period and a cross-breeze is just making things messy. Sunday the 16th is a write-off. Monday the 17th through to the weekend is more of the same – small, weak, and chopped up. The wind just won't cooperate. The swell is tiny, around 3 ft to 3 ft, and you're fighting a cross-chop all day. It's not really worth paddling out for.
The pattern finally shifts a bit on the 27th of August. The swell starts to build, but it's still a cross-shore wind. By Thursday afternoon, the swell jumps up to 7 ft from the NW with a short period of 9 seconds, and the wave energy cranks up to strong (1304). That's a lot of power, but it's raw and bumpy. This is expert-only territory, and even then, the cross-shore wind will make it a battle. It's more of a wind-swell event than a clean wave.
The following week calms down again. The swell drops back to around 3 ft from the SSW, and the energy is moderate (500-800 range). The wind is still a problem, mostly cross-shore or cross-onshore, keeping the surface lumpy. The last few days of August and into the 31st are just small and messy.
If you're desperate for a paddle, the best of a bad lot is the morning of Thursday the 27th. There's a 5 ft NW swell with a gentle cross-shore breeze, making it at least ridable. The energy is moderate (532). But don't expect any gems. This whole outlook is a dud for clean, lined-up waves. If you've got a kite, this stretch of days might be more interesting than paddling.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 11 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | SW 18 | WNW 8 | NW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 481 | 469 | 362 | 334 | 334 | 334 | 236 | 259 | 366 | 199 | 305 | 322 | 259 | 156 | 183 | 235 | 105 | 242 | 283 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:19AM1.80m | 1:58PM1.98m | 2:18AM1.60m | 2:35PM1.97m | 3:30AM1.43m | 3:15PM1.94m | 5:05AM1.33m | 4:02PM1.90m | 7:01AM1.33m | 4:57PM1.88m | 8:32AM1.39m | 5:58PM1.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:29AM0.61m | 8:26PM0.72m | 8:02AM0.81m | 9:30PM0.70m | 8:35AM1.00m | 10:40PM0.68m | 9:12AM1.15m | 11:53PM0.64m | 10:03AM1.27m | 1:01AM0.58m | 11:22AM1.34m | 1:57AM0.51m | |||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | 8:00 | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 7 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 481 | 469 | 362 | 334 | 334 | 334 | 236 | 259 | 366 | 114 | 107 | 322 | 117 | 140 | 109 | 111 | 90 | 99 | 142 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | S 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 10 | WNW 9 | W 13 | W 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | W 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 11 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 85 | 57 | 8 | 50 | 61 | 9 | 26 | 3 | 19 | 163 | 305 | 78 | 259 | 156 | 183 | 128 | 105 | 79 | 99 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 10 | SW 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 18 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 17 | WNW 13 | S 22 | WNW 11 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | S 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 24 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 96 | 59 | 9 | 74 | 36 | 15 | 183 | 81 | 2 | 46 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 10 | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 21 | 15 | 75 | — | — | 101 | 41 | 119 | 183 | 199 | 183 | 173 | 229 | 153 | 155 | 235 | 81 | 242 | 283 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 96 | 135 | 0 | 96 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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