Morro Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Gotta level with you—this 16-day look at Morro Rock is a grim one. Most of it is flat, blown out, or just plain ugly. The water’s sittin’ at 60°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a full suit if you’re even thinkin’ about paddlin’ out.

The first real chance to talk waves doesn’t come until Wednesday, September 9th, and even that’s marginal. After a long run of tiny, onshore junk with weak energy (mostly under 100 in the wave energy department), we finally see a pulse on the 9th morning. The swell comes from the SW with a 16-second period—that’s a long-period groundswell that can wrap nicely into a point or reef. The combined energy jumps to 310 (moderate), but the swell height is only 2ft, and the wind is light onshore from the WSW. It’s a marginal call, but it’s the best we’ve got all week. That same afternoon sees a bigger swell at 7ft from the WNW, but with a short 7-second period and onshore wind, it’ll be a washing machine—only for the hardcore.

The standout window, and I mean the only real standout in this whole 16-day stretch, is Thursday, September 10th, through Friday, September 11th. The swell direction holds from the SW, with periods of 16-17 seconds—very long period. Wave heights sit around 3ft to 5ft, and the combined energy builds from 520 to 730 (moderate to strong). The wind is light and cross-onshore, so the surf will be a bit bumpy, but far cleaner than anything else on offer. This is your best bet for a surfable wave, though it’s still marginal. The spot is consistent, and the optimum swell direction from the NW is a mismatch here, but the SW groundswell can still work with the right tide.

Crowds are possible at Morro Rock when it’s the only game in town, and with this outlook, it’ll be just that. The rest of the period is a write-off: tiny waves, onshore winds, and weak energy. Saturday the 12th onward drops back into the doldrums, with heights under 4ft and energy fading. The 15th has a long-period SW swell around 2ft, but with a moderate cross-onshore wind, it’s not worth the drive.

Honestly, if you’re not a die-hard, this stretch might be more interesting for a kite session than a paddle, given the bigger, windier afternoons. But for the patient surfer, keep your eyes on September 10th and 11th. It’s promising, but with a 16-day forecast, don’t bet the farm on it.

Rusty.

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