Mavericks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk Mavericks in feet and miles per hour. This is a bleak outlook, I won’t sugarcoat it. This spot needs a solid WNW to NW groundswell and clean conditions to fire, and for the next 16 days, it’s just not cooperating. The wind is almost always cross-onshore, the swell is mostly short-period junk, and the wave energy is weak to moderate. Water temp is about what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing special.

Starting Wednesday the 19th, we’ve got a tiny 2ft SW swell with a 15-second period – long period, but wrong direction and light cross-onshore wind means it’s messy. Wave energy is weak (375). This pattern holds through the 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd with swell heights barely scraping 4ft, short periods mostly under 8 seconds, and light to moderate cross-onshore winds. The waves are small, choppy, and gutless. Energy stays in the 130–404 range, weak to moderate. That’s a full week of poor surf.

The 24th to the 25th, we get a tiny 1ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period, but the energy is still only moderate (226–261). Wind goes light and onshore, but the swell is just too small. Marginal at best, maybe a longboard on a good tide.

The 26th through the 28th sees a bump to 4–5ft from the WNW, but the period is short – 7 to 8 seconds – and the wind is cross-onshore. Energy climbs to 374–478, moderate, but the waves will be lumpy and weak. Not worth it.

The 29th of August into the 30th and 31st, we see a longer-period SW swell (16–17 seconds) but heights drop to 2–3ft. The energy on the 29th morning spikes to 745 (strong), but the wind is still moderate cross-onshore. That’s the most interesting energy we’ve seen, but it’s still poor surf.

The 1st of September is more of the same. Then, on Wednesday the 2nd of September, we finally get a real pulse: 6ft WNW swell with a 9-second period, light onshore wind in the morning, and energy jumps to 682 (strong). The afternoon holds 6ft with 10-second period and 703 energy. This is the best we’re going to see. The waves will have some size, but the period is short for a reef like Mavericks, and the wind is cross-onshore to onshore, so bumpy. It’s a marginal session for experienced surfers only. The 3rd of September holds similar size, but the wind goes cross-onshore again, and energy is still strong (664), but messy.

So, what’s the standout? There isn’t a true standout. The morning of the 2nd of September is the closest thing to a go – most size and energy, but wind and short period keep it from being good. For the rest of the 16 days, it’s a long, flat, choppy grind. This is a normal quiet spell for the area. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d be looking for a different plan for a couple of weeks.

Rusty.

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