
Surf Forecasts:
Mavericks surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 21 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 22 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, WNW swell with 398 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mavericks this week:
The surf forecast for Mavericks over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Mavericks in the next 16 days are 1.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 22) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 22nd Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mavericks over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's be straight with you: it's gonna be a tough slog for most of the next two and a half weeks out there on the water. We're looking at a big quiet patch before we get any real hope.
The swell energy is all over the place but mostly low. The only spot on the list is Mavericks, and it's got a long, frustrating wait ahead.
The season's hanging on, but it feels like a holding pattern for the next week.
Days 1–4 (Sept 15–18): Honestly, forget it. The first few days are a write-off. Surf is small and onshore. Tuesday morning sees some 5 ft WNW swell coming in at 8 seconds, but the wind is a light cross-on. It's weak and lumpy energy (372). Water's 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's about the only positive. The rest of this block is even worse – heights drop to 2 ft, periods are long but the wind is either cross-on or onshore. It's just messy.
Days 5–8 (Sept 19–22): Still a struggle. The weekend is poor. Saturday morning has a tiny 2 ft SW groundswell at 18 seconds, but cross-on winds and weak energy (301) make it a non-starter. Sunday morning offers a brief chance: a 5 ft NW swell (7 seconds) with onshore wind – marginal at best. The combined energy is moderate (548), but the short period and onshore breeze will ruin it. Not one for the log.
Days 9–12 (Sept 23–26): Now we're talking, but only for a moment. Wednesday the 23rd is the standout. The morning brings a clean 4 ft WNW swell (11 seconds) with a light cross-offshore breeze from the NE. This is the cleanest window we've seen – proper lines, moderate wave energy (526). It’s a wind-swell setup but manageable. The afternoon glass off is even better: 3 ft WNW at 10 seconds, glassy conditions, but the swell is dropping. This is the best on offer. After that, it's back to small onshore dribble through the rest of the week.
Days 13–16 (Sept 27–30): The long-range promise. The last few days of the month start to build again. Tuesday the 29th morning has a 5 ft WNW at 8 seconds, but it’s onshore and weak (576). Then Wednesday the 30th morning is the big one – a solid 6 ft WNW groundswell (11 seconds) with a light cross-on breeze. The combined energy is strong at 1009, and this is a powerful swell for the break, but the wind is a question mark. For experts only if it holds. The afternoon is too small and choppy.
The takeaway: If you have to surf, make it the morning of Wednesday, September 23. That's the cleanest, most surfable window. The Wednesday the 30th morning looks promising but it's a long way off and the wind could kill it. Don't bother before the 23rd unless you like closeouts and spray.
Stay patient, keep an eye on the charts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | WNW 8 | SW 17 | SW 17 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
256 | 176 | 188 | 237 | 188 | 128 | 122 | 119 | 84 | 184 | 184 | 133 | 199 | 197 | 197 | 200 | 339 | 270 | 283 | 283 | 398 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:38PM1.66m | 3:24AM1.18m | 2:15PM1.60m | 4:50AM1.12m | 3:02PM1.54m | 6:29AM1.14m | 4:00PM1.48m | 7:42AM1.19m | 5:08PM1.47m | 8:27AM1.26m | 6:17PM1.48m | 8:59AM1.31m | 7:18PM1.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:36PM0.17m | 8:16AM0.90m | 9:32PM0.21m | 9:12AM1.02m | 10:37PM0.24m | 10:34AM1.09m | 11:48PM0.24m | 12:01PM1.09m | 00:53AM0.22m | 1:09PM1.02m | 1:47AM0.18m | 2:00PM0.93m | 2:30AM0.14m | ||||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 19 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
256 | 176 | 188 | 237 | 188 | 128 | 99 | 75 | 58 | 59 | 184 | 91 | 58 | 197 | 197 | 120 | 157 | 270 | 227 | 242 | 398 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | WNW 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | NW 10 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 |
93 | 64 | 63 | 87 | 142 | 23 | 122 | 119 | 84 | 184 | 24 | 133 | 199 | 44 | 26 | 199 | 339 | 190 | 283 | 283 | 287 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | W 13 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | WNW 12 | SW 14 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | — | — | SSW 12 |
23 | 14 | 38 | 36 | 27 | 31 | 39 | 22 | 19 | 82 | 52 | 69 | 44 | 8 | 7 | 29 | 29 | 15 | — | — | 28 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | — | — | 66 | 138 | 200 | 229 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 35 | 74 | 71 | 109 | 255 | 21 | 35 | 48 | 35 | 35 | 73 | 35 | 35 | 76 | 73 | 35 | 74 | 35 | 35 | 71 | 5 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Mateo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Mavericks Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Mavericks provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Mavericks can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Mavericks surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Mavericks) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Mavericks may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Mavericks is 13 km (8 miles) from Pacifica. If you plan a vacation in San Mateo, look for hotels and other accommodation in Pacifica. Pacifica has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










