La Yerbabuena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window for the coast is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out run of tiny, weak swell and messy wind. The first real chance of anything rideable doesn’t appear until Saturday, July 18th, and even then it’s marginal. Before that, from now through Friday, July 17th, you’re looking at a solid week plus of flat, poor conditions. The swell is consistently under 3ft, with periods mostly in the 5 to 9 second range – that’s weak, short-period windswell – and the energy readings are pathetic, barely cracking 100 (like 8 to 82). Winds are mostly cross-on or onshore, just making things choppy and ugly. It’s a desert out there.

The one spot that’s hanging in there is La Yerbabuena, a point/river setup that’s inconsistent even on a good day. It’s a fairly exposed spot, and the optimum swell direction is from the SW. Water temps are sitting around 71°F, which is essentially normal for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The potential for a small window shows up on Saturday, July 18th. The morning sees a 3ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 7 seconds and a combined energy of 102 – that’s finally in the moderate range. The wind is a light cross-on at 6 mph from the W, which is light enough to keep it cleanish. The rest of that day and the morning of Sunday, July 19th, stay in the same ballpark: 3ft swells from the WNW and W, with energy readings up to 107. The catch? The wind on Sunday morning turns onshore from the SSW at 9 mph, making the surf sloppy. After that, it drops right back down to nothing by Monday, July 20th.

If you’re desperate, La Yerbabuena on the morning of Saturday, July 18th is the best on offer. It’s a one-star standout, not a full-blown event. The swell is 3ft from the WNW, with a period of 7 seconds. The wind is light cross-on, so it’ll be a bit bumpy but not total junk. The break is inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for sets, and it’s a point break, which is a good thing for this setup – it’ll handle that short-period swell better than a beach break. Expect crowds to be likely, as it’s described as “often” busy. It’s not a day for beginners – 3ft is manageable, but the inconsistency and light chop will make it tricky. For the more experienced crew, it’s a paddle-out worth taking if you’re itching for something.

That’s the long and short of it. The swell is tiny, the wind is mostly wrong, and the consistency is a joke. The 18th morning is your one shot, and it’s a gamble. Stay patient.

Rusty.

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