Moss Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming our way.

Honestly, the outlook for the next 16 days is a tough one. We’ve got a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions, with only a few glimmers of hope. The first surfable recommendation doesn’t appear until Monday, August 10th, and even then it’s marginal. For the most part, we’re dealing with a persistent cross-onshore wind that’s keeping things choppy and messy.

Moss Landing is the only spot on the cards, and it’s a fairly exposed NW swell magnet. The water temperature is sitting at 61°F, which is about 2°F warmer than the long-term average for this time of year – a notable little anomaly that’ll make the paddle out a touch more pleasant.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Monday morning, August 10th. We’ll see a 4ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 272. It’s still a cross-onshore wind, though just a light breeze, so it’ll be lumpy but not howling. The call is marginal, so don’t expect perfection, but it’s the best the week has to offer.

A small window of something different shows up on Monday morning, August 17th. The swell is tiny at 1ft from the WNW, but for a moment, the wind goes glassy. It’s a rare moment of peace, but with such minimal swell, it’s a gamble for a longboard or a flat day. The combined energy is a weak 27.

The standout, if you can call it that, is actually the morning of Tuesday, August 18th. We get a 1ft swell from the WNW, but with a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 162, and for a brief moment, the wind is offshore from the W. This is a pure groundswell pulse. At Moss Landing, which is a fairly exposed spot, that long period will likely produce some clean, lined-up waves, but with such a small height, it’s really one for the patient, skilled surfer on a log. The offshore wind is the key here.

After that, the pattern returns to the same cross-onshore wind and small, weak swell through the rest of the period. The swell direction stays NW, but the wind never really cleans up. The best of the second week is the morning of Sunday, August 23rd, with a 5ft WNW swell at 9 seconds and moderate energy (322), but the cross-onshore wind (6 mph) will keep it bumpy, and the call is only marginal.

All in all, if you’re desperate, the Monday morning of August 10th is your best bet for some rideable, if not perfect, waves. The Tuesday morning of August 18th is a wildcard for the experienced crew if the long-period groundswell lines up with that offshore wind. Otherwise, it’s a lot of waiting.

Stay patient, the ocean always gives.

Rusty.

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