Mavericks Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.50° N 122.50° W

Mavericks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 16 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Mavericks sea temperature is
16.3° C
1.9° 

Mavericks surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Mavericks surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, NW swell with 306 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period with SW 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Mavericks in the next 16 days are 1.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Mon 17th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 15s
Best Surf 8AM (Mon 17th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 15s
Most Powerful11AM (Thu 20th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mavericks over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here again, and I’ve got to level with you. This look at Mavericks is a tough sell. We’ve got waves coming in, mostly from the south-west and west-north-west, but the wind is the problem. Cross-onshore or onshore winds are the story for nearly the whole 16 days, and that’s going to mess up that heavy, perfect wave. You want that place glassy, and we just aren’t seeing it.

Starting off on Sunday the 16th. There’s a 2ft south-west groundswell, with a super long 15-second period, but it’s coming in with a light onshore breeze. The water’s a touch warmer than normal at 61°F, but the surf conditions are poor. The combined swell energy is moderate, sitting around 284, but it doesn’t matter much with the wind.

Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th are more of the same – small 2ft to 2ft south-west swell, decent period, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore. It’s a shame because that long period means it’s a proper groundswell, but it’s wasted.

By Wednesday the 19th afternoon, we see a bump in size, but not in quality. There’s a 5ft north-west swell, shorter period at 8 seconds, and the wind picks up to a moderate cross-onshore breeze. The combined energy jumps into the moderate range at 649, but it’s going to be choppy. This pattern holds through to the end of the month.

Thursday the 20th sees the biggest swell of the period, with a 5ft north-west swell, but again, it’s cross-onshore at 12 mph. That’s not the Mavericks we want. This is the kind of setup that starts looking more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – especially as those waves get lumpy and the energy is moderate to strong (726).

We don’t get a single standout day here. Nothing is clean. There is a brief window on the morning of Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th with a tiny 1ft to 2ft south-west swell and a long period, but the wind is light and onshore, and it’s marginal at best.

The rest of the forecast, right through to Sunday the 31st of August, is more of the same. Swell size bounces between 1ft and 4ft, mostly from the south-west, with that persistent cross-onshore wind. The combined energy stays in the moderate range, between 150 and 411, but without good wind, it’s a no-go.

Mavericks is a beast that demands respect and clean conditions. This run just doesn’t deliver. The water temp is about average for the time of year, but that doesn’t help us.

There are no good surf options in this 16-day window for Mavericks. It’s a blank run, plain and simple. For a spot this exposed and this critical, it tends to be a waiting game. Hang in there.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
15
1.1
WNW
8
1.1
WNW
7
0.7
SW
15
1.4
NW
8
1.3
WNW
8
1.6
NW
8
1.2
WNW
7
1.5
WNW
7
1.1
WNW
7
1.3
WNW
7
1.4
WNW
7
1.2
WNW
8
1.3
WNW
8
1.2
WNW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
242
217
217
217
169
176
138
131
217
248
204
306
144
249
120
162
220
163
226
197
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
5
W
5
W
15
WNW
10
NW
10
W
15
WNW
10
WNW
15
WSW
20
WNW
15
NW
20
NW
20
NW
15
NW
15
WNW
20
NW
15
NW
15
WNW
20
NW
10
WNW
Wind State
on
on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
High Tide
2:05PM1.69m
2:20AM1.35m
2:40PM1.68m
3:28AM1.19m
3:17PM1.65m
4:57AM1.08m
4:01PM1.62m
6:46AM1.07m
4:53PM1.59m
8:15AM1.14m
5:52PM1.59m
9:10AM1.21m
6:52PM1.61m
Low Tide
8:23PM0.38m
8:13AM0.47m
9:21PM0.35m
8:56AM0.67m
10:24PM0.32m
9:46AM0.85m
11:32PM0.29m
10:54AM0.99m
00:41AM0.24m
12:13PM1.05m
1:42AM0.18m
1:23PM1.05m
2:33AM0.11m
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:26
6:28
6:28
6:28
6:30
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
8:00
7:58
7:57
7:55
7:54
7:52
 mm
Temp °C
15
13
14
16
13
15
14
13
16
16
13
14
15
13
15
15
14
15
15
13
Feels °C
14
12
14
14
11
14
12
11
15
14
10
11
13
10
13
12
12
13
12
11
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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