Morro Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up at Morro Beach over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, this stretch of reef isn’t serving up much worth paddling out for right now. The first recommended surf doesn’t come until Thursday morning, August 27, but even then we’re looking at a pretty ordinary start. Swell is a weak 3ft from the South with a moderate 12-second period, and a light onshore breeze from the SW won’t be doing the face any favours. The water temp is a noticeable 73°F—much warmer than normal for this time of year, with the anomaly clocking in at 5°F above average. Combined wave energy is moderate (518). Score’s low, but there's a pulse.

We roll into Friday, August 28, with smaller surf. Morning brings 2ft from the SSW with a promising 17-second period—that’s a proper groundswell. But it’s still onshore from the SW, so the shape will be average. Combined energy drops to 351. Afternoon shrinks to 2ft on a 19-second period (309 combined energy). Not one for the quiver.

Saturday morning, August 29, sees a bump back to 3ft from the SSW with that same long 17-second period, and combined energy rises to 688 (moderate). Still onshore breeze though, which kills the vibe. By afternoon the wind turns cross-on from the W at 15 km/h, and surf quality tanks completely—no score, just chop.

From Sunday, August 30, right through to the end of the first week and into the second, it’s a long grind. Most days show a mix of swell around 3ft to 5ft, but it’s constantly blown out by onshore or cross-onshore winds. The stand-out moment might be Tuesday morning, September 1, where the wind goes glassy—totally still, SW 5 km/h. Swell is only 3ft from the South with a short 11-second period (combined energy 226), but glassy conditions mean it’s clean. That’s your best chance for a quiet, small-wave session, but don’t expect any power.

Wednesday morning, September 2, shows a slight increase to 3ft S swell with a 12-second period (440 energy), but the cross-onshore wind from the W ruins any hope of quality.

The only other flicker is Thursday morning, September 3, where we see 4ft from the SSW with a 14-second period (702 combined energy). Still cross-on wind, but the size and period make it worth a look if you’re desperate. After that, it’s more of the same—small, messy, and frustrating. Through the second week (September 5–11) there’s no real improvement: all swell is below 3ft, mostly from the SSW or SW with periods around 14–18 seconds, but cross-onshore winds are relentless. Combined energy hovers in the 300–500 range. The reef at Morro Beach might offer some shelter, but with onshore flow and those small heights, it’s a tough ask.

Bottom line: the only real standout is Tuesday morning, September 1 with glassy wind and small but clean waves from the South. If you’ve got a log and low expectations, you’ll find a few. Otherwise, this 16-day window is mostly a write-off. Keep an eye on the forecasts—it can turn around.

Rusty.

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