Leffingwell Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for this stretch of coastline. We’ve got one spot on the radar, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, we’re looking at a pretty quiet period. The swell is hanging around small, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, which is a real bummer for quality. The first few days are a write-off, with poor surf conditions and hardly any energy. The combined wave energy is weak, sitting between 332 and 589 (moderate) for the first week, but the wind just ruins the shape. The water temp is sitting at 60°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no need for a thick winter suit yet.

The first real chance of anything rideable comes on the morning of Saturday, August 9th, but even then it’s only marginal. The swell is a tiny 3 ft from the SSW with a long 15-second period, a real groundswell, but the wind is a light cross-onshore. It’s not totally blown out, but it’s far from clean. This pattern of marginal, small surf continues right through the first week, with the odd morning seeing a light cross-shore breeze that might smooth it out a bit. The best of the first week looks like Sunday afternoon, August 10th, with the swell picking up to 3 ft from the SSW and a 15-second period, and the wind is a light onshore. It’s a small, clean-looking wave for a log or a funboard, but don’t expect any power.

Now, the standout moment – and it’s a long way off – is on Wednesday afternoon, August 20th. The swell is forecast to jump to 7 ft from the WNW, with a 12-second period. The combined wave energy hits a very strong 1634, meaning there’s some serious grunt in the water. The wind is cross-onshore at 16 mph, which will chop it up a fair bit. This is a solid, powerful swell for the reef at Leffingwell Landing (California). It’s a very consistent spot, so it will be breaking, but the wind is the enemy here. For experienced surfers, this could be a fun, punchy session if you find a peak that’s a bit sheltered. Beginners should stay well clear of this one.

The last week of the period is a bit of a letdown again. The swell drops back to small, and the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, often moderate to fresh. The combined energy is still moderate, but the conditions are just not there for quality surfing. There’s a moment on the morning of Sunday, August 24th, with 4 ft from the WNW, but the period is short at 8 seconds and the wind is onshore. It’s a messy, choppy option.

So, to be straight with you, the best on offer is the Wednesday afternoon, August 20th at Leffingwell Landing. It’s the only time the swell gets serious, but the wind is a big caveat. If you’re a strong paddler and don’t mind a bit of chop, it’s your window. The rest of the time, it’s small, weak, and mostly blown out. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because this one could change, but for now, don’t get your hopes up too high.

Rusty.

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