Lunada Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I gotta be straight with you—it’s a pretty flat and frustrating stretch ahead for our area. We’re looking at a long, slow grind with very little to get excited about. The first real chance for a wave doesn’t appear until the morning of Monday the 10th, and even then it’s nothing to write home about.

The pattern for the first week and a half is dominated by tiny, weak swell. We’re talking ankle to shin-high waves for days, with the combined wave energy staying mostly in the moderate range (102 to 237). The wind is a constant problem too, mostly onshore or cross-onshore, which just messes up whatever small bump there is. The water is running at a very toasty 73°F which is much warmer than normal for this time of year—almost 7°F above average, which is very unusual.

The only time it even looks like a surfable option is Monday morning, the 10th of August. The swell is a pathetic 2 ft from the SSW at 14 seconds—that period is decent, but the energy is still low (148). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSE, which is the cleanest wind we’ll see for a while. It’ll be ‘surfable but very ordinary’, and honestly, that’s the best we’ve got for a while.

We then hit another big gap of nothing until the morning of Sunday the 16th of August. That’s a full week of poor conditions. Then, on Sunday the 16th, we finally get a standout. The morning session has a glassy, 3 mph wind from the SW, and the swell is a tiny 3 ft from the SSW at 16 seconds. The combined energy climbs to a moderate 346. It’s a long-period groundswell, which will help it wrap into Lunada Bay a bit better, but the size is still small. The crowd factor is a real thing here—it’s often busy, so expect company. This is the best moment on offer, but it’s still a marginal call.

There’s one more glimpse of glassy conditions on the morning of Tuesday the 18th of August, but the swell drops back to 1 ft, so it’s just a clean but tiny day.

Truth is, this is a tough run. The consistency is low, and the swell is just not there. For a reef break like this, it’s going to be a waiting game. Don’t hold your breath for the first week.

Rusty.

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