
Surf Forecasts:
Mavericks surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 21s period, SW swell with 763 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 17s 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Mavericks in the next 16 days are 0.9m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 21s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mavericks over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about the surf. The next 16 days are a bit of a slow burn. The first week is mostly flat and messy, with nothing to get excited about. The water’s running at 60°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year.
The main spot on the radar is Mavericks (Half Moon Bay). It’s a consistent, exposed reef that’s built for big stuff, but you won’t see that for a while. From Saturday the 18th through the end of the week, the swell is tiny – just 2ft to 3ft from the SW. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross-on or onshore, and the energy is weak (429 to 453). Not worth your time. Sunday the 19th has a little more energy in the afternoon (509), but the wind is still on and the surf is marginal.
The next few days are the same story: small, weak, and choppy. Tuesday the 21st and Wednesday the 22nd have a bit more energy (379-453), but the wind is cross-on and the swell is still tiny. By Thursday the 23rd, the wind picks up to a moderate breeze, making it choppy. Not good.
Now, there’s a shift around the end of the first week. Friday the 24th, the swell period jumps to 24 seconds, which is a very long period groundswell. The energy bumps up to 632 in the morning and 706 in the afternoon, but the swell is still only 2ft. The wind is on in the morning and cross-on in the afternoon. Still marginal. Saturday the 25th has higher energy (742), but the wind is onshore and the swell is small.
The real change comes on Monday the 27th. The swell picks up to 3ft from the SW, with a period of 18 seconds and strong energy (1148). The morning has light onshore wind, but it’s marginal. Tuesday the 28th sees the swell at 3ft, with energy at 1084, but the wind is cross-on from the NW.
Then, on Wednesday the 29th of July, we get a proper shot. The swell jumps to 8ft from the WNW with a period of 10 seconds. The energy is massive (2303), but it’s a short-period swell, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. The wind is onshore in the morning with a light breeze, which could give you clean faces. This is for experts only – 8ft at Mavericks is serious. The afternoon has cross-on wind, which will mess it up.
Thursday the 30th has the swell dropping to 6ft from the WNW, still with a short period, and the energy is still high (927). The wind is onshore in the morning, but the afternoon is cross-on and choppy.
The pick of the entire window is the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July. That’s the only time the swell is big, the direction is right (WNW), and the wind is light and onshore, offering a chance for clean conditions. It’s a true standout for very experienced surfers. The rest of the time, it’s a waiting game. Crowds at Mavericks can be an issue sometimes, but with this forecast, it’ll be quiet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 17 | SW 18 | W 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 26 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 22 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
190 | 201 | 172 | 165 | 297 | 261 | 198 | 242 | 251 | 303 | 325 | 176 | 191 | 197 | 208 | 180 | 163 | 237 | 448 | 444 | 298 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:02PM1.63m | 2:32AM1.41m | 3:42PM1.66m | 3:40AM1.21m | 4:22PM1.67m | 5:05AM1.06m | 5:04PM1.67m | 6:50AM1.01m | 5:49PM1.67m | 8:25AM1.06m | 6:36PM1.68m | 9:33AM1.15m | 7:25PM1.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:14AM-0.04m | 8:58PM0.58m | 8:56AM0.18m | 10:05PM0.49m | 9:40AM0.41m | 11:14PM0.40m | 10:29AM0.62m | 00:22AM0.29m | 11:25AM0.80m | 1:25AM0.19m | 12:30PM0.93m | 2:19AM0.09m | 1:34PM1.00m | 3:07AM0.01m | |||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | SSW 13 | WNW 7 |
56 | 54 | 57 | 93 | 100 | 261 | 64 | 242 | 251 | 303 | 325 | 109 | 191 | 197 | 208 | 180 | 163 | 32 | 28 | 154 | 117 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | W 16 | W 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 13 | SW 15 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 24 | SSW 13 |
190 | 178 | 172 | 165 | 297 | 80 | 198 | 62 | 46 | 46 | 30 | 176 | 75 | 39 | 31 | 43 | 42 | 154 | 156 | 444 | 129 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 16 | SW 18 | WNW 11 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | W 13 | SW 18 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 26 | SW 24 | SW 16 | SW 22 |
183 | 201 | 22 | 118 | 112 | 65 | 76 | 71 | 37 | 30 | 49 | 32 | 25 | 28 | 49 | 17 | 15 | 237 | 448 | 42 | 298 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 3 | — | — | WNW 6 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 49 | — | — | 24 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 66 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 35 | 74 | 35 | 35 | 71 | 21 | 35 | 71 | 11 | 37 | 48 | 35 | 76 | 310 | 0 | 71 | 310 | 46 | 35 | 419 | 35 |
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.










