La Yerbabuena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s kick things off with a look at La Yerbabuena, a point/river set-up that's got a bit of personality but is gonna be a tough one to call for the next couple of weeks.

We start off with very little going on. The first few days are a write-off, with a tiny swell around 3ft and a short period of 6 seconds, plus onshore winds messing it up. Thursday 27th and Friday 28th are a no-go. The combined energy is weak, sitting at just 52 on Thursday morning, so there’s no power in the water. You’d be scratching your head out there.

There’s a slight glimmer on Saturday 29th morning. We get a bit of a cleaner look with a cross-off breeze from the ENE at 6 mph, and the swell bumps up to 3ft from the WNW with a period of 8 seconds. The energy picks up to 144 – still modest, but it’s a step up. The afternoon even goes glassy, with a 2ft swell and a 6-second period, but it’s so small it’s barely worth a paddle. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

The following week is a flat spell. From Sunday 30th right through to Wednesday 11th September, we’re looking at a long stretch of tiny waves. Swell heights drop below 2ft, periods are short, and the energy figures are in the low double or single digits. The wind stays cross-off from the east, which keeps the surface clean, but there’s just nothing to ride. This is a proper drought.

Then, on Thursday 10th September, things get a bit more interesting. A pulse of swell comes through at 5ft from the WNW, but with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 225, which is moderate, so there’s some kick. But the wind is a cross from the SE at 6 mph, and the report says “light cross-shore with small crossing wind ripples,” so it’s not ideal. Friday 11th shows a similar story with 4ft swell and a cross-on wind, keeping it messy.

The standout window, if you can call it that, is the Saturday 29th morning session. The 3ft swell, though short-period, is offering the best shape and the cleanest conditions with that offshore breeze. For a spot that’s inconsistent, this is as good as it gets in the near term, but it’s still a small, weak wave. The energy is only 144, so it’s not gonna be a day for the record books.

The long-range Thursday 10th September pulse is the biggest of the window, but the wind is a cross, and the period is short, so it’s likely to be a bit of a mess. Given the spot is a point/river, the short period won’t hold up well. It’s a promising sign that the ocean is waking up, but don’t get your hopes up for perfection.

Overall, it’s a lean 16 days. The first week is a total write-off. The second week has a tiny glimmer, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. If you’re desperate, the Saturday 29th morning is your best bet for a clean, small wave. Otherwise, wait for the next forecast.

Rusty.

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