Surf Forecasts:
Mavericks surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 464 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Mavericks in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 11PM. 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 2s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mavericks over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s get into it.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you—this 16-day window is a slow grind for Mavericks. There’s a long stretch of nothing worth paddling out for. The first few days are flat and messy, with a lot of poor surf and marginal conditions holding things back. For the most part, you’re looking at small, weak swell, and the wind is often onshore or cross-onshore, chopping things up. The water’s running a touch warmer than normal at 61° with an anomaly just over a degree, so it’s not uncomfortable, but that doesn’t fix the waves.
From Monday the 31st through the first week of September, the swell barely scratches above 2 ft, and the energy reading is weak to moderate at best. The period sits around 14 seconds, so there’s some length in the lines, but the direction is mostly SSW or SW, which isn’t lining up with Mavericks’ optimum WNW direction. Wind is a problem—onshore or cross-on most sessions. The setups are too small and choppy to get excited about.
There’s a real gap here. From Monday the 31st all the way through to Wednesday morning the 10th of September, you’re looking at day after day of poor or marginal surf. A few mornings show a very light breeze, but the swell just isn’t there, or it’s from the wrong angle. It’s a dry spell.
Then, at last, on Thursday morning the 10th of September, Mavericks wakes up. That morning session is the standout. Swell jumps to 6 ft from WNW, period a solid 11 seconds, and the combined energy is strong. Wind is light and cross-offshore from the NNE, which means clean, well-shaped waves. This is the kind of morning that gets the heart going. That said, this is a long-range call—still promising, but keep an eye on it. In the afternoon the wind swings NW and goes cross-on, spoiling it again.
After that, Thursday the 10th is the only real highlight. The following days drop back down into marginal or poor conditions, with smaller swell and cross or cross-on breezes. On Tuesday the 15th of September, the afternoon picks up a bit with 5 ft from NW and moderate energy, but it’s cross-onshore, so the quality won’t match that Thursday morning.
Bottom line: One standout—Thursday morning the 10th of September. Early, clean, solid swell. If you can wait, that’s your window. The rest is a grind.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 19 | WNW 9 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
211 | 178 | 118 | 114 | 114 | 109 | 98 | 61 | 173 | 179 | 137 | 379 | 370 | 405 | 458 | 255 | 245 | 287 | 217 | 214 | 186 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 1:17PM1.70m | 1:56AM1.34m | 1:51PM1.74m | 3:05AM1.21m | 2:33PM1.76m | 4:33AM1.12m | 3:25PM1.76m | 6:15AM1.12m | 4:28PM1.76m | 7:39AM1.21m | 5:39PM1.78m | 8:36AM1.31m | 6:52PM1.81m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:41PM0.27m | 7:31AM0.55m | 8:36PM0.20m | 8:12AM0.72m | 9:39PM0.14m | 9:03AM0.88m | 10:52PM0.09m | 10:16AM1.00m | 00:09AM0.02m | 11:44AM1.04m | 1:19AM-0.05m | 1:05PM0.98m | 2:19AM-0.12m | ||||||||
6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | WNW 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | WNW 10 | SW 16 | WNW 6 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 7 |
142 | 178 | 36 | 114 | 114 | 96 | 12 | 14 | 84 | 73 | 137 | 218 | 143 | 405 | 458 | 154 | 245 | 49 | 217 | 214 | 142 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | W 5 | SW 18 | WNW 10 | SW 17 | WNW 9 | SW 17 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 10 | WNW 6 | SW 16 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | WNW 5 | WNW 9 | SSW 14 |
211 | 14 | 118 | 12 | 50 | 42 | 98 | 34 | 173 | 74 | 70 | 379 | 370 | 36 | 64 | 255 | 48 | 287 | 21 | 32 | 186 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SW 19 | W 9 | W 11 | WNW 11 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | W 15 | WNW 10 | SSW 12 | W 18 | NW 10 | WNW 9 | S 14 | SSW 10 |
15 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 12 | 109 | 60 | 61 | 58 | 179 | 113 | 57 | 41 | 17 | 90 | 54 | 6 | 45 | 32 | 16 | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 7 | — | — | W 7 | — | SSE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | WNW 10 | — | — | WNW 10 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | — |
— | 97 | — | — | 28 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 274 | — | — | 145 | — | 36 | 47 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 390 | 76 | 63 | 145 | 196 | 0 | 5 | 76 | 39 | 35 | 134 | 39 | 35 | 399 | 35 | 5 | 74 | 39 | 46 | 76 | 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.











