La Yerbabuena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

First up, a brutal truth: the next week and a half is pretty much a write-off. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak swell, a lot of muck, and not much to get excited about. From Wednesday the 29th of July right through to the 10th of August, the wave energy stays low – mostly in the single or low double digits – and the heights barely tickle the knee. There’s a lot of poor surf conditions listed, with westerly or northwesterly breezes messing up the surface. A few moments of glassy conditions on the 29th afternoon and 31st morning, but with swell at 0.7ft to 2ft, it’s barely a ripple. You’d be better off swimming.

The first real flicker of hope comes on Tuesday the 11th of August. The swell finally bumps up to 3ft from the west, with a period of 7 seconds. The energy is still weak, sitting at 94, but the morning is glassy. That’s your window. We’re talking about La Yerbabuena, a point and river setup that likes a southwest swell. The wind is offshore from the east-northeast, which is perfect for this spot. The water is a balmy 69°F, but that’s a full 4°F colder than normal for this time of year, so it’s noticeably cooler. Keep in mind, this break is inconsistent, and it often gets crowded – so if that glassy morning lines up, expect company.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The 12th and 13th of August see the swell drop back to nothing, with cross-onshore winds ruining any chance of a clean wave. The 13th is a total fade-out, with combined energy down to 3 or 5.

So, call it as it is: the only real day to keep an eye on is Tuesday morning, August 11th, at La Yerbabuena. It’s not going to be pumping, but with a clean glassy surface and a little push from the west, it’s the best we’ve got. Surfable but ordinary is the phrase, and that’s being generous.

Stay patient, check the charts, and hope for a change.

Rusty.

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