Mavericks Surf Break

Lat Long: 37.50° N 122.50° W

Mavericks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Mavericks sea temperature is
16.5° C
2.0° 

Mavericks surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Mavericks surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, SW swell with 255 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mavericks this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Mavericks in the next 16 days are 0.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 2PM (Tue 18th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mavericks over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Metric

Alright, let’s get into it. For the first few days, from Tuesday, August 18 through Friday, August 21, the surf is just not happening. The wave energy is weak in the 200s (220-246), and the wind is mostly a cross-onshore breeze, making everything choppy. It’s poor surf, plain and simple. You’re better off doing something else.

Then on Saturday, August 22, we finally get a tiny glimmer. The morning shows a 1.1m swell from the WNW with a short period of 8 seconds, light onshore wind, and the energy climbs to 227. The score is a "1", which is just marginal – it’s not great, but it’s the first thing we’ve got. The water temp is a touch warmer than normal at 17°, which is nice.

Sunday, August 23, starts with a 1.0m swell from the WNW, 8-second period, and light onshore wind. Energy is 254. The afternoon drops to a tiny 0.4m from the SW with a very long 18-second period, but the wind stays onshore. The short period WNW swell is just not going to shape up well, especially with the onshore breeze.

Monday, August 24, looks similar – tiny 0.4m SW swell, 18-second period, light onshore wind. The energy is in the 220s. It’s pretty dead.

The pattern doesn’t really improve. Tuesday, August 25, and Wednesday, August 26, keep the same story: small WNW swell, short period, and onshore or cross-onshore winds. The energy does bump up to 275-282, but the wind just kills it.

Now, Thursday, August 27, things start to get a bit more interesting for the experts. The morning swell is 1.5m from the WNW at 8 seconds, with a cross-onshore wind and energy at 425. The afternoon jumps to 1.7m, still WNW, 8 seconds, but the cross-onshore picks up to 20 km/h, and the energy spikes to 810. That’s moderate wave energy. But that wind is still a problem.

Friday, August 28, is the one standout for the big-wave crew. The morning shows 1.8m from the WNW, 8-second period, with a cross-onshore wind and energy hitting 1022 – that’s strong wave energy. The score is a "1", so it’s marginal, but if you’re an expert, this is the biggest swell of the window. The afternoon drops to 1.5m, but the energy is still 479. The wind is still cross-onshore, so it’s going to be lumpy. This is only for experts.

After that, it fades again. Saturday, August 29, has a 1.7m morning swell, but by the afternoon it’s back to tiny 0.6m SW groundswell. The energy drops. The rest of the run through September 2 is all small, short-period windswell, with cross-onshore winds making it choppy. The last day on Wednesday, September 2, has a 0.5m SW swell with a very long 19-second period and energy at 451, but the wind is a fresh 25 km/h cross-onshore – that’s messier than a kicked-up sandbar.

So, the honest truth? The only window that even looks close to okay for a paddle is the morning of Saturday, August 22, and even that’s marginal. If you’re an expert, the morning of Friday, August 28, has the biggest energy (1022) and a 1.8m swell, but it’s going to be a battle with the wind. For everyone else, it’s a long, flat wait. The swell direction from the WNW isn’t matching the optimum swell direction for the break, which is WNW, so that’s a plus on paper, but the wind is the story here. And for a spot like this, with a consistent break and crowds sometimes, the lack of clean conditions means it’s not worth the drive.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
15
0.5
SW
16
1
WNW
7
0.7
SW
15
0.7
SW
15
0.6
SSW
15
1.1
WNW
7
1.1
WNW
7
1.3
WNW
7
1.1
WNW
7
1.1
WNW
6
1.3
WNW
7
1.1
WNW
8
1.3
WNW
8
1
WNW
8
1
WNW
8
0.4
SW
18
0.8
WNW
9
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
0.5
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
176
125
104
217
226
152
124
113
151
113
97
163
135
187
122
131
112
113
113
108
142
Wind (km/h)
15
WNW
20
WNW
10
WNW
10
WSW
20
WNW
15
NW
15
WNW
20
NW
15
NW
20
NW
20
NW
15
NW
10
W
15
WNW
10
WNW
15
WNW
15
WNW
10
WNW
10
W
15
WNW
10
WNW
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
High Tide
3:17PM1.65m
4:57AM1.08m
4:01PM1.62m
6:46AM1.07m
4:53PM1.59m
8:15AM1.14m
5:52PM1.59m
9:10AM1.21m
6:52PM1.61m
9:49AM1.27m
7:47PM1.66m
10:20AM1.32m
8:36PM1.71m
Low Tide
8:56AM0.67m
10:24PM0.32m
9:46AM0.85m
11:32PM0.29m
10:54AM0.99m
00:41AM0.24m
12:13PM1.05m
1:42AM0.18m
1:23PM1.05m
2:33AM0.11m
2:18PM1.01m
3:16AM0.05m
3:03PM0.95m
3:52AM0.01m
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clear
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:28
6:28
6:30
6:31
6:31
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:58
7:57
7:55
7:54
7:52
7:52
7:50
 mm
Temp °C
14
15
13
15
15
13
15
15
13
14
15
13
16
16
13
15
15
13
15
16
13
Feels °C
12
13
11
14
13
10
13
13
10
11
12
11
15
14
11
13
13
12
14
14
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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.

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