Surf Forecasts:
Mavericks surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 541 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period with SSW 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s 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 0.9m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) 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 0.2m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mavericks over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this is a tough one to write. We’ve got the whole 16-day window ahead of us, and honestly, it’s a flat spell for the most part. There’s a big gap of nothing worthwhile from the start, and the only spot we’ve got to talk about is a heavy one.
Mavericks is the only break on the cards, and it’s a serious, exposed reef setup that needs a lot of oomph to get going. The first real surf worth mentioning doesn’t show up until Friday morning, 28th of August. It’s a mixed bag – a long-period 17-second groundswell from the SSW, but it’s only pushing 2 ft. The wind is light and cross, so it’s not blown out, but that swell is so small for a place like Mavericks. The combined energy is moderate at 325. It’s a marginal call, really just a whisper of a wave. The rest of that day and the following days are poor, with onshore and cross-onshore winds chewing up the tiny swell.
The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual to report.
Now, if you’re looking for the best on offer, we have to squint and look at the very end of the period. Saturday morning, 12th of September, there’s a tiny pulse of 3 ft swell from the SW with a 14-second period. The wind is light and offshore from the west, which is a major positive. For Mavericks, clean conditions are everything. The combined energy is moderate at 439. It’s still small, but the offshore wind makes it the cleanest window of the whole forecast. This is a spot for experts only, and with crowds that are sometimes an issue, you might have the place to yourself if you’re early. Don’t get your hopes up for barrels, but it’s the best we’ve got.
The long-range stuff is always less certain, but that 12th is the one to circle. Everything else is a write-off. For the first week and a half, I’d find something else to do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | SSW 17 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | SW 16 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
142 | 195 | 299 | 319 | 534 | 395 | 515 | 358 | 220 | 214 | 211 | 180 | 116 | 114 | 85 | 96 | 98 | 94 | 135 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:43PM1.73m | 11:56AM1.52m | 11:25PM1.68m | 12:20PM1.58m | 00:09AM1.59m | 12:47PM1.65m | 00:59AM1.47m | 1:17PM1.70m | 1:56AM1.34m | 1:51PM1.74m | 3:05AM1.21m | 2:33PM1.76m | 4:33AM1.12m | ||||||
Low Tide | 5:23AM0.03m | 5:31PM0.59m | 5:52AM0.11m | 6:10PM0.47m | 6:22AM0.23m | 6:53PM0.37m | 6:55AM0.37m | 7:41PM0.27m | 7:31AM0.55m | 8:36PM0.20m | 8:12AM0.72m | 9:39PM0.14m | |||||||
— | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SW 19 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | SW 13 | SSW 13 |
142 | 96 | 299 | 153 | 161 | 395 | 402 | 186 | 163 | 196 | 176 | 110 | 60 | 48 | 43 | 96 | 81 | 43 | 95 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 17 | W 10 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | W 7 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 17 |
130 | 195 | 31 | 319 | 534 | 6 | 447 | 358 | 220 | 214 | 211 | 180 | 116 | 114 | 85 | 22 | 82 | 94 | 135 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | W 10 | SW 13 | S 10 | S 9 | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 16 | SW 19 | W 9 | SW 18 | SW 18 | NW 10 | SW 17 | S 11 | WNW 9 |
45 | 34 | 45 | 16 | 6 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 45 | 14 | 6 | 51 | 50 | 26 | 98 | 21 | 31 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 7 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | WNW 4 |
— | — | 88 | — | 240 | 177 | 515 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 68 | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 35 | 2 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 76 | 73 | 35 | 48 | 52 | 5 | 74 | 39 | 109 | 76 | 0 | 48 | 74 | 39 |
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.











