Moss Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day window for Moss Landing is a tough one to call. The whole run is plagued by cross-onshore winds, and the data shows a long stretch of poor surf conditions. The first real chance to even think about a wave doesn’t pop up until Sunday the 23rd of August, and even then, it’s a marginal call. Before that, from now through Saturday the 22nd, it’s a whole lot of nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is small, the wind is messy, and the energy is weak. You’re looking at a solid 9-day gap with no recommendations.

Sunday, 23rd August – The morning session shows a glimmer of hope. The swell is 4 ft from the WNW with a period of 8 seconds, but the combined energy is moderate (332). The wind is a light breeze, but it’s still cross-onshore, so expect bumpy, lumpy conditions. The report says “marginal,” and I’d agree. It’s not going to be pretty, but it’s the only thing on the menu.

Monday, 24th August – This is the one standout, and it’s a proper big boy day. The morning brings a 6 ft swell from the NW, with a combined energy of 837 – that’s strong wave energy. But this is where it gets tricky. At that size (over 5 ft), it’s already too much for beginners, and the wind is still a gentle cross-onshore. The afternoon drops to 6 ft, but the energy is still high (477). For the experienced crew, this is your window, but it’s going to be raw and challenging. The crowd profile here says “sometimes,” so you might have a few others out there with you.

Tuesday, 25th August – A weird one. The morning shows a tiny 2 ft swell from the SW with a very long period of 17 seconds. That’s groundswell, and at that period, it’ll be super straight at a beach break like Moss Landing. The wind is “on” at 6 mph, which is offshore, so it’s glassy, but the combined energy is high (330) for such a small wave. It’s a real tease – clean conditions but no power. The afternoon is back to the usual cross-onshore chop.

The rest of the week from the 26th onward fades back into tiny, weak, and messy conditions. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no need to worry about a wetsuit change.

Bottom line: If you’re an expert who wants a wild, challenging session, Monday the 24th is your only real shot. If you’re anyone else, save your energy. The forecast is poor for the foreseeable future, but it’s not abnormal for this area to have a blank run. Keep an eye on it – things can change.

Rusty.

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