
Surf Forecasts:
Mavericks surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, WNW swell with 587 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mavericks this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Mavericks in the next 16 days are 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 12s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mavericks over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you about Mavericks – this stretch of coast is going through a real quiet spell. The whole 16-day window is pretty much a write-off for a proper session. There’s nothing that I’d call a genuine standout, and even the “best” days are only marginal, with poor surf conditions dominating. The first surfable suggestion doesn’t show up until Friday 17 July morning, and even then it’s just a marginal call with a score of 1 – that’s a four-day gap from the start with nothing worth paddling out for.
The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
Alright, let’s run through it day by day.
Wednesday 15 July – Wednesday morning brings a 5ft swell from the WNW with a short 8-second period, so it’s jumbled and weak. That cross-on wind at 9 mph is making it choppy and poor. The combined energy is moderate at 604, but it’s messy. The afternoon stays the same story – 5ft, cross-on at 12 mph, energy drops to 410, and it’s still poor. No point wetting the suit.
Thursday 16 July – Thursday morning is a repeat: 6ft from the WNW, 8-second period, cross-on at 12 mph, energy at 568, and poor. Afternoon is a bit more cloud, still 6ft, cross-on from the NW, energy at 582, and still choppy. Nothing to get excited about.
Friday 17 July – Friday morning is the first time we see a marginal note. Swell is 5ft from the WNW, still 8-second period, but the wind is onshore at 9 mph. The combined energy is 534 – moderate. It’s not clean, and the score is a 1. This is the best on offer in the first week, but honestly, it’s a scratchy, uninviting wave. The afternoon goes back to poor with 5ft and cross-on wind.
Saturday 18 July to Sunday 26 July – From Saturday 18 July through to Sunday 26 July, the swell drops right off. We’re talking 2ft to 3ft most days, with long-period SW groundswell (16 to 24 seconds). That long period should mean shape, but it’s too small to do anything at Mavericks. The combined energy stays in the 200 to 1000 range – weak to moderate. Winds are mostly onshore or light cross-onshore. The marginal scores pop up again on Friday 24 July afternoon (score 1), Saturday 25 July morning (score 2), and Sunday 26 July morning (score 2). Saturday 25 July morning is the highest score in the whole outlook: a 3ft SW swell at 21 seconds, light onshore wind at 6 mph, and combined energy of 805. For a spot like Mavericks, that’s barely a ripple. The long period and small size mean it’ll be breaking too straight for the reef, and the energy is weak.
Monday 27 July to Thursday 30 July – The last few days are more of the same: 3ft to 4ft SW swell, periods around 15-18 seconds, onshore or cross-on winds, and combined energy around 500-900. The scores are all 0 or 1. Thursday 30 July morning is the last call – a 3ft SW swell, 16-second period, light onshore wind, energy at 506, and a marginal score of 1. It’s a forgettable end to a forgettable run.
There’s no standout day here. The surf is too small, inconsistent, and dogged by onshore wind. The combined energy never reaches strong levels, and the swell direction (WNW, then SW) doesn’t line up with the optimum WNW for Mavericks. For a wave this heavy, you need size and clean conditions, and we’ve got neither. If you’re a beginner, the swell never goes over 5ft, but the conditions are too poor to learn. If you’re an expert, there’s nothing to challenge you. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – the consistent cross-onshore winds and moderate energy would give a kite a good pull.
That’s the lot. It’s a lean stretch, but it tends not to stay poor for long around here. Forecasts can change. Keep an eye on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tue 21 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 16 | SW 17 | SW 18 | W 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
188 | 264 | 270 | 587 | 335 | 364 | 446 | 256 | 300 | 185 | 190 | 201 | 172 | 203 | 297 | 216 | 155 | 201 | 201 | 129 | 167 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:53PM2.06m | 1:04PM1.50m | 11:46PM1.98m | 1:44PM1.55m | 00:38AM1.83m | 2:23PM1.59m | 1:33AM1.63m | 3:02PM1.63m | 2:32AM1.41m | 3:42PM1.66m | 3:40AM1.21m | 4:22PM1.67m | 5:05AM1.06m | 5:04PM1.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:05AM-0.48m | 5:57PM0.78m | 6:50AM-0.39m | 6:55PM0.71m | 7:32AM-0.23m | 7:54PM0.65m | 8:14AM-0.04m | 8:58PM0.58m | 8:56AM0.18m | 10:05PM0.49m | 9:40AM0.41m | 11:14PM0.40m | 10:29AM0.62m | ||||||||
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
8:30 | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | SW 17 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 14 |
188 | 191 | 73 | 435 | 89 | 89 | 446 | 256 | 207 | 107 | 91 | 64 | 50 | 80 | 70 | 216 | 155 | 201 | 201 | 85 | 167 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 12 | SW 16 | W 19 | W 19 | W 18 | W 17 | W 18 | W 16 | SW 17 | W 16 | W 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | S 12 | WNW 8 | SW 16 | SSW 11 |
109 | 109 | 37 | 90 | 117 | 116 | 164 | 148 | 216 | 185 | 190 | 178 | 172 | 203 | 297 | 49 | 47 | 71 | 39 | 129 | 40 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 13 | W 13 | W 20 | W 12 | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 14 | W 16 | SW 18 | WNW 10 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 18 |
62 | 40 | 30 | 73 | 27 | 13 | 78 | 130 | 73 | 72 | 181 | 201 | 35 | 118 | 112 | 102 | 65 | 64 | 36 | 17 | 78 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 5 |
— | 264 | 270 | 587 | 335 | 364 | — | — | 300 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | — | 22 | 32 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 35 | 35 | 73 | 35 | 74 | 73 | 35 | 74 | 74 | 35 | 35 | 74 | 35 | 35 | 74 | 35 | 35 | 74 | 35 | 35 | 73 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Mateo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











