Little Rincon Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this stretch is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with barely a whisper of surf for the next couple of weeks. The first glimmer of anything ridable doesn’t show up until the morning of September 6th, a full week away, and even then it’s marginal. Before that, we’ve got a solid run of flat, blown-out nothingness.

Starting from Sunday the 30th of August, the water is a bathtub-warm 71°F, which is a massive 8°F warmer than normal for this time of year – feels more like a swimming pool than the ocean. But there’s no surf to enjoy it. The swell is tiny, coming from the SSW with periods around 14 seconds, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore from the WSW and SW at 6-9 mph, just trashing what little energy there is. The combined energy is weak, ranging from 273 down to 67 (moderate to weak). It’s a no-go.

This flatness continues day after day. Monday the 31st, Tuesday the 1st, Wednesday the 2nd, Thursday the 3rd, Friday the 4th, and Saturday the 5th of September all show the same story: weak swell (1.0 ft to 2 ft), poor surf conditions, and onshore winds. The combined energy drops to as low as 30 one afternoon. The only tiny highlight is that the winds are light, but the swells are just too small and messy to bother with.

Finally, on the morning of Sunday the 6th of September, we get a little something. The wind shifts to a light cross-offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, and the conditions are described as "clean." The swell is still a tiny 2 ft from the SSW, with a period of 15 seconds. The combined energy reading is 154 (moderate). Look, it’s not going to be a classic, and it’s a long period swell that can be a bit tricky at the beach breaks, but at Little Rincon (a reef break), that long period should wrap in nicely. The swell direction is a close match to the optimum WNW, so it’s worth a paddle. Just be aware that crowds are sometimes an issue here.

That little window slams shut by the afternoon, with heavy rain and onshore winds from the WNW at 12 mph ruining the party. The rest of the forecast is a write-off. From Monday the 7th through to Monday the 14th of September, it’s back to the same old story: flat, weak swells, and onshore winds. The only other slight change is on the morning of Wednesday the 9th, where the swell period jumps to 19 seconds, but the height is a pathetic 1 ft from the SW. The combined energy is 202 (moderate), but for a wave that small, that long period just means long waits between ankle-biters.

Honestly, the only day to even think about is that Sunday the 6th of September morning. It’s not a standout, but it’s the only game in town. The rest of the 16-day window is a total blank. For an area like this, a run this long without decent surf is a bit unusual, but it happens. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, I’d be finding something else to do.

Rusty, signing off.

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