Surf Forecasts:
Mavericks surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SW swell with 434 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 5AM (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 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 10s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mavericks over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's cut to the chase: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and ugly. There's a big dry spell at the start, so if you're hoping to get wet soon, you're going to be waiting a while. The one silver lining is that a spot this consistent doesn't stay this quiet for long, and these forecasts can turn on a dime.
The charts are showing a whole lot of onshore wind and poor conditions. The first sign of any real energy doesn't show up until Tuesday, August 18th. That morning, the swell jumps to about 6ft at 8 seconds. That short period means it'll be junky and walled-up. The wave energy is moderate at (819), but with the cross-onshore breeze, it'll be lumpy. The afternoon backs off a bit and the wind gets worse, so that day is a washout.
Wednesday the 19th brings another pulse of about 5ft, but the period is still a short 8 seconds. The morning wind is light onshore, giving it a little more shape, but it's still not going to be pretty. If you're desperate, you might find a few corners, but the quality is poor.
Our best shot in the first week comes on Thursday, August 20th. The swell is around 4ft, but the period stretches out to 11 seconds. That’s a legitimate groundswell, and the energy is moderate at (520). The wind is still onshore, but it's light. For an exposed spot like Mavericks, this is the cleanest it’s going to get. It’s still a marginal call, but it's the closest thing to a real surf we've got.
After that, it backs off again. We get some long-period south-southwest swell sneaking in, but the onshore wind kills any chance of clean waves. The energy drops right out, and this poor run continues through the weekend and into the next week.
Near the end of the period, around Thursday, August 27th and Friday, August 28th, we see some more size. The swell builds back to 5ft to 5ft, but the period is short, only 8 to 9 seconds. The energy is moderate, hitting 447 and 538 on those days. But here's the catch: the winds are forecast to be cross-onshore and fresh. It's going to be a choppy, wind-blown mess. At that size and with that wind, this is more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle-surfing one.
So, the bottom line is there’s no standout day. If you're forced to pick, Thursday morning, August 20th, looks like your best bet. It has the best mix of size, period, and the lightest wind, but it's still a gamble. That long-range stuff near the end of the month is promising in size, but the wind will probably ruin it. For beginners, this whole two weeks is a no-go. For the rest of you, patience is key.
Keep your head up, the surf will come back.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | WNW 8 | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | SW 15 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
157 | 149 | 149 | 106 | 161 | 211 | 334 | 211 | 371 | 299 | 242 | 217 | 217 | 217 | 220 | 314 | 226 | 353 | 263 | 181 | 186 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:24PM1.60m | 11:39PM1.88m | 12:58PM1.65m | 00:30AM1.72m | 1:31PM1.68m | 1:22AM1.54m | 2:05PM1.69m | 2:20AM1.35m | 2:40PM1.68m | 3:28AM1.19m | 3:17PM1.65m | 4:57AM1.08m | 4:01PM1.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:45PM0.58m | 6:20AM-0.11m | 6:37PM0.49m | 6:58AM0.06m | 7:28PM0.43m | 7:35AM0.26m | 8:23PM0.38m | 8:13AM0.47m | 9:21PM0.35m | 8:56AM0.67m | 10:24PM0.32m | 9:46AM0.85m | 11:32PM0.29m | ||||||||
6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WNW 7 | SW 15 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WNW 8 |
149 | 149 | 113 | 78 | 61 | 37 | 334 | 211 | 371 | 299 | 242 | 217 | 51 | 217 | 220 | 220 | 125 | 353 | 171 | 181 | 186 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 14 | WNW 6 | SW 13 | WNW 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | SW 15 | W 12 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 13 | SW 16 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 |
157 | 119 | 149 | 106 | 161 | 169 | 23 | 61 | 26 | 77 | 32 | 30 | 217 | 3 | 169 | 176 | 44 | 122 | 55 | 74 | 93 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 20 | SW 20 | SW 14 | SSW 18 | W 10 | S 9 | W 10 | S 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 8 | S 10 | SSW 18 | W 13 | W 15 | SW 13 | S 9 | SW 22 | SSW 15 |
11 | 11 | 39 | 97 | 102 | 211 | 17 | 6 | 18 | 8 | 17 | 15 | 24 | 8 | 32 | 4 | 17 | 42 | 2 | 18 | 152 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 7 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | 117 | — | 314 | 226 | — | 263 | 128 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 76 | 74 | 35 | 93 | 76 | 39 | 35 | 76 | 35 | 35 | 76 | 35 | 35 | 74 | 72 | 35 | 73 | 35 | 35 | 74 | 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.











