Morro Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a tricky stretch ahead for Morro Beach. The main player here is a long-period southwest swell, but the wind is a persistent headache, and the surf quality just never locks in right. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 69°, which is a nice bonus.

The first few days are a write-off. Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th are flat and messy with light onshore breezes. The swell is small, around 2ft to 3ft from the SW, and the wave comment is poor, so don’t bother. The combined energy is weak, between 295 and 647, which tells you there’s nothing doing.

Monday the 20th is marginal at best. The morning sees a 4ft swell from the SSW with a period of 11 seconds, and combined energy of 342. It’s light wind, but the surf is just questionable. The afternoon gets a cross-onshore breeze and the size drops. Not the day.

Tuesday the 21st through Thursday the 23rd are a frustrating grind. Swell hangs around 2ft to 4ft from the SSW, with periods between 14 and 16 seconds. The energy is moderate (371 to 623), but the wind is always cross-onshore, turning the ocean into a choppy, lumpy mess. The wave comment is poor or marginal. The best you’ll get is a barely rideable wave on Wednesday morning the 22nd with a light onshore breeze, but it’s only 3ft.

Friday the 24th sees a jump in period to 24 seconds, which is a very long groundswell, but the swell height is tiny at 2ft to 2ft. The combined energy is high (727), but that’s the long-period energy. For a beach break like Morro, that long period tends to make the wave break too straight and dumpy. It’s still a marginal, cross-onshore affair.

The standout window, and the only one worth a real look, is from Saturday the 25th through to Tuesday the 29th. The swell holds steady at 3ft to 4ft from the SSW, with periods between 17 and 21 seconds. The combined energy climbs into the 900s, which is strong wave energy. The mornings on the 25th, 26th, and 27th are the best of the bunch, with a light cross-onshore breeze that’s just about manageable. The wave comment is marginal, but the swell is there, and the sets will have some push. The afternoon on the 26th is actually glassy, with the wind going onshore, so that’s a clean window. This is the pick of the forecast. Crowds are often here, so expect company.

Then, a gap. From Wednesday the 30th through Saturday the 2nd of August, the swell drops, the wind turns cross-shore or onshore, and the energy falls off. Not good.

The final kicker arrives on Friday the 31st of July. A 6ft SSW swell hits with a 15-second period and combined energy of 1509. That’s strong to very strong wave energy. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s rideable, but this is big for the spot. At 6ft, it’s pushing into expert-only territory. The wave comment is still only marginal, and the afternoon gets choppy. This is a looker for the experienced crew only, and it’s still a week and a half out, so keep an eye on it.

If you’re a kiter, the whole period is more interesting. Consistent cross-onshore wind and moderate swell means Morro Beach is a better bet for a kite than a paddle for most of this run.

So, the bottom line: Keep your expectations low. The best surf is the stretch from the morning of the 25th through the 27th, with the 26th afternoon being the cleanest. The big swell on the 31st is for experts only and is a long-shot call. For the rest of it, it’s a lot of waiting for a window that never fully opens.

Rusty.

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