Morro Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee, have a listen to Rusty. The outlook for the next couple of weeks is a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. We've got a solid run of small, choppy windswell for the first week, and then it looks like it tries to build but the wind just doesn't play ball. The whole period is plagued by onshore or cross-onshore winds, so the wave quality is a real struggle. Let's walk through it.

The only spot in the frame is Morro Rock. It's consistent, and it's a fairly exposed beginner-friendly spot, which is good for the crew just finding their feet. At this time of year, the water temperature is about average for the year, so nothing unusual there.

We kick off with a few days of nothing much. Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th are a write-off. We're looking at a weak, short-period windswell from the WNW, only about 4 ft to 5 ft, combined wave energy is pitiful (100-183), and the wind is cross-on or onshore, making it messy and choppy. Not worth a paddle.

Thursday the 20th shows a flicker of something. The swell pushes up to 6 ft from the NW on the morning (energy of 543), but the wind is straight onshore. It's a total mess. The combined energy is moderate, but the quality is just not there. For the rest of that week and into the next, it's the same story: small, weak swell with onshore wind. The wind is mostly a light to gentle breeze, but it's never offshore, so the surface is always bumpy.

There is a bit of a pulse around the 26th and 27th of August. The swell height climbs to 8 ft and even 8 ft from the WNW, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to a strong 874 and 862, which is a lot of water moving. But the wind is still cross-on or onshore, and at 8 ft, that's getting into expert-only territory, especially with a short period that will be fat and challenging. The wind state is described as "moderate cross-onshore and choppy," so it's not a clean wave. The sheer size and energy make it look more interesting for the kite foilers than for a paddle surfer.

The very end of the forecast, around the 1st and 2nd of September, sees the energy drop back down to weak levels again. The whole 16-day window is a tough one for Morro Rock. The surf is always there, but the quality is never there. The wind just never lines up properly. If you're desperate for a paddle, the mornings of the 26th or 27th might offer the biggest lumps, but be prepared for a bumpy, choppy ride. It's a classic case of the swell and the wind fighting each other.

Rusty.

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