Leffingwell Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the table for this stretch.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a pretty grim run of days ahead. The water is sitting at a very unusual 55°F—that’s a solid 5°F colder than what’s normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a thicker suit if you’re even thinking about paddling out at Leffingwell Landing (reef). The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until Friday the 17th, and even then it’s not a barnburner.

For the first few days, from Sunday the 12th through Wednesday the 15th, it’s just a mess. The swell is on the small side, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy, and the combined wave energy is moderate at best (around 460 to 592). The water is cold, and the surf is poor. Don’t bother. Thursday the 16th gets a bit bigger—up to 8ft by afternoon—but it’s a short-period, wind-chopped mess with a fresh cross-onshore breeze, and the energy jumps to 1077, which is strong. That’s expert-only territory, and the wind will ruin it anyway.

Now, Friday the 17th morning is the standout. The wind goes glassy—straight up offshore and light from the SSW at just 3 mph. The swell is small, only 2ft, but it’s a long-period groundswell coming from the WNW at 18 seconds. That’s a very long period, which means clean, lined-up waves on the reef here. The combined energy is a solid 656. It’s not big, but it’s pure. This is the best window for a surfer who wants quality over quantity. The crowds here are sometimes a thing, so you might have company, but with that glassy surface, it’ll be worth it.

Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th are still worthwhile, with offshore winds and similar long-period knee-to-waist-high swell (3ft to 3ft) from the SW to WNW. The energy stays moderate-to-strong (around 549 to 721). Conditions are clean, but it’s marginal on the tide, so watch the water level. After that, Monday the 20th through Wednesday the 23rd sees the wind turn slightly cross-onshore, and the swell holds but gets a bit weaker. The magic is fading.

The second week drops off hard. From Thursday the 24th of July onward, the swell tanks. You’re looking at 1ft to 2ft, short-period junk, and cross-onshore winds. There’s a spike to 6ft on Saturday the 25th and again on Sunday the 26th, but it’s from the WNW with a period of just 6 or 7 seconds—basically windslop. The energy is moderate (around 457 to 610), but it’s not surfable with that fresh breeze. The final days, Monday the 27th, are just more of the same: choppy, lumpy, and poor.

So, the honest truth: the best bet is Friday the 17th morning. It’s glassy, it’s clean, and the reef will turn that long-period energy into something special. If you miss that, hit Saturday the 18th or Sunday the 19th for more of the same, just a touch less clean. After that, the window closes.

Rusty out.

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