
Surf Forecasts:
Mavericks surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 21s period, SW swell with 763 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mavericks this week:
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.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| 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, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the outlook for our local zone. Straight up, I’ve gotta be honest with you—this is a tough stretch. We’re staring down the barrel of a long, frustrating run of poor surf conditions that lasts for the better part of two weeks. The first real glimmer of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Wednesday, the 29th of July, and even then, it’s not perfect.
For the first week and a half, from Tuesday the 21st of July all the way through Tuesday the 28th, it’s a write-off. The swell is small, the wind is junk, and the water is churned up. We’ve got a consistent cross-onshore breeze from the northwest, and the swell direction is mostly SSW or SW, which is not what this place likes. The combined energy is moderate in the early days, around 362 (moderate) to 756 (moderate), but the quality is just not there. The water temperature is sitting at 60°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, a degree or so above average, but that’s small comfort when the waves are poor.
Then, on Wednesday the 29th of July, things finally wake up. We get a pulse of swell from the WNW, which is the magic direction for Mavericks. The swell height jumps to 7 ft in the morning, with a short period of 8 seconds—so it’s not a classic groundswell, but it’s got some push. The combined energy is strong, hitting 1487 (strong). The catch? The wind is still cross-onshore from the WNW at 9 mph, so it’s not clean. That morning session is rated as marginal, and it’s the best we’ve seen in days. This is a big wave, over 8 ft, so this is strictly for experts. The short period means it’ll be a bit lumpy, and at a reef break like this, the short period keeps it from being too straight, but it’s still a heavy, powerful wave.
Thursday the 30th of July morning offers a similar setup: 7 ft from the WNW, period 8 seconds, and an onshore wind from the WSW at 6 mph. It’s still marginal, but with the wind more onshore, it’s a bit cleaner than the day before. The energy is strong again at 1278 (strong). Again, experts only.
After that, it fades. The swell drops back below 5 ft by Friday the 31st, and the wind stays cross-onshore or onshore, keeping the quality poor. The second week is a quiet, forgettable affair with small, short-period swell and energy levels dropping to weak (168) to moderate (800). The only real standout in the entire 16-day window is that Wednesday the 29th of July morning. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only moment where the size and direction line up. If you’re an expert and you’ve been waiting, that’s your window. For everyone else, it’s a long wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 26 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 22 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | NW 8 | SW 18 | SW 19 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
299 | 316 | 230 | 242 | 197 | 211 | 175 | 158 | 237 | 448 | 444 | 298 | 548 | 445 | 455 | 450 | 441 | 557 | 534 | 595 | 441 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:04PM1.67m | 6:50AM1.01m | 5:49PM1.67m | 8:25AM1.06m | 6:36PM1.68m | 9:33AM1.15m | 7:25PM1.69m | 10:22AM1.22m | 8:12PM1.72m | 11:00AM1.27m | 8:56PM1.75m | 11:32AM1.30m | 9:38PM1.78m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:29AM0.62m | 00:22AM0.29m | 11:25AM0.80m | 1:25AM0.19m | 12:30PM0.93m | 2:19AM0.09m | 1:34PM1.00m | 3:07AM0.01m | 2:30PM1.02m | 3:48AM-0.05m | 3:19PM1.01m | 4:25AM-0.10m | 4:01PM0.98m | 4:58AM-0.13m | |||||||
6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 8:27 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WNW 6 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SSW 13 | SW 21 | SW 21 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SW 19 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 19 | SW 16 |
299 | 316 | 230 | 176 | 103 | 77 | 175 | 158 | 58 | 448 | 444 | 95 | 548 | 445 | 163 | 124 | 441 | 402 | 232 | 595 | 214 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NW 11 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 22 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 |
33 | 30 | 146 | 242 | 197 | 211 | 29 | 21 | 154 | 116 | 116 | 298 | 83 | 43 | 455 | 450 | 89 | 375 | 534 | 98 | 184 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | W 13 | NW 8 | NW 8 | W 12 | WNW 12 | SSW 7 | SW 26 | SW 26 | NW 10 | NW 9 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | — | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SW 12 |
30 | 30 | 17 | 10 | 25 | 26 | 10 | 106 | 237 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 85 | 82 | — | 87 | 40 | 2 | 71 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 4 | — | — | — | W 5 | WNW 5 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
— | — | 7 | — | — | — | 28 | 31 | — | 30 | 38 | 99 | 62 | 65 | — | — | 226 | 557 | 398 | 319 | 441 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 5 | 35 | 107 | 76 | 39 | 74 | 73 | 39 | 35 | 73 | 63 | 35 | 73 | 63 | 35 | 73 | 72 | 35 | 74 | 72 |
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.










