Surf Forecasts:
Mavericks surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 541 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8AM. 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 9s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mavericks over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. Looking at the next couple of weeks, it’s going to be a serious test of patience. We’ve got a long, drawn-out stretch of small, messy conditions ahead, with very few windows where you’ll want to grab your board.
The first few days are a complete write-off. Thursday the 27th has a bumpy, cross-onshore mess with weak 3.6ft to 3.9ft waves. It’s just not worth the paddle out. Friday the 28th and into the weekend will see tiny 2ft to 3ft swells, but the winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, leaving things choppy and uninviting. We’ll see some longer-period energy arrive on Friday morning (around 17 seconds), but with barely any size, it’s just not going to break properly at Mavericks (California). The swell energy is moderate at best (413), but it’s all for nothing with these winds.
We’re looking at a real gap here. From the 27th right through to the end of the first week of September, there’s just nothing doing. The swell direction wants to be from the WNW, and we’re getting a lot of SSW and SW swell, which just isn’t right for this place. The wind is mostly on it, too. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th will see the swell nudge up to 3.3ft, and there’s even a light offshore wind on the Saturday morning. That’s the first real glimmer of hope, but it’s still only a marginal call at best. You might find a clean little one, but don't expect any power behind it.
The second week is looking a little more promising, but it’s a long way off. The 9th of September has some clean, light offshore winds in the morning with a 2.6ft swell, but it’s still pretty weak. The energy is still moderate (600) and the long-period groundswell (18 seconds) means it could be a bit too straight for the beach, but this is a reef, so it might just be the best bet of the whole stretch. It’s still pretty small, though.
Honestly, the only real highlight in the whole 16 days is the morning of Saturday, September 5th. It’s still small at 3.3ft, but you have light winds coming from the west-southwest which is offshore here. The swell direction from the southwest isn't perfect, but with the light winds and a little more energy (562), you might at least get a few fun, clean waves if you manage your expectations. Don't hold your breath for anything bigger. It’s going to be a quiet couple of weeks, but that’s the nature of the game here sometimes.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | SSW 17 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | NW 8 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
204 | 99 | 117 | 168 | 195 | 299 | 319 | 534 | 326 | 485 | 358 | 220 | 214 | 211 | 136 | 120 | 151 | 111 | 109 | |
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 | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:02PM1.76m | 11:33AM1.46m | 10:43PM1.73m | 11:56AM1.52m | 11:25PM1.68m | 12:20PM1.58m | 00:09AM1.59m | 12:47PM1.65m | 00:59AM1.47m | 1:17PM1.70m | 1:56AM1.34m | 1:51PM1.74m | 3:05AM1.21m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:54AM-0.01m | 4:54PM0.69m | 5:23AM0.03m | 5:31PM0.59m | 5:52AM0.11m | 6:10PM0.47m | 6:22AM0.23m | 6:53PM0.37m | 6:55AM0.37m | 7:41PM0.27m | 7:31AM0.55m | 8:36PM0.20m | |||||||
— | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SW 14 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SW 19 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
163 | 99 | 74 | 168 | 153 | 299 | 226 | 191 | 326 | 392 | 214 | 147 | 196 | 168 | 99 | 43 | 151 | 111 | 96 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | SSW 17 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WNW 7 | SW 18 | WNW 5 |
107 | 75 | 40 | 130 | 195 | 45 | 319 | 534 | 6 | 447 | 358 | 220 | 214 | 211 | 136 | 120 | 27 | 50 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSW 12 | W 11 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | W 10 | S 10 | S 9 | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 12 | SW 19 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | SW 18 |
76 | 45 | 39 | 45 | 65 | 16 | 16 | 7 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 109 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | — | WNW 6 | — | — | WNW 7 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | — |
204 | — | 117 | — | — | 148 | — | 302 | 181 | 485 | 356 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 31 | 35 | 73 | 35 | 63 | 74 | 35 | 74 | 74 | 72 | 35 | 48 | 52 | 386 | 74 | 21 | 71 | 76 | 39 |
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.











