Moss Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead, but I’m not gonna lie to you—this one is a tough stretch. The whole forecast is dominated by persistent cross-onshore winds, and while there’s some energy in the water, the quality is just not there for a proper paddle session. The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t show up until the end of the month, and even then it’s a marginal call.

Alright, let’s talk about Moss Landing. This spot is very consistent and fairly exposed, but the wind is the story here. From Saturday morning, July 18, right through to the end of the month, it’s a constant stream of cross-onshore breeze. Saturday morning starts with a 3 ft swell from the WNW at a very long 16 seconds, but that cross-on 6 mph wind from the WSW spoils it. The combined energy is moderate (578), but the wave comment says it all: poor surf conditions. That pattern just repeats: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday… all cross-on, all poor. The swell drops to tiny 1 ft midweek, with weak energy (10), so there’s nothing to get excited about.

The water temperature anomaly is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

We finally get a tiny glimmer of hope on Friday, July 31. The morning shows a 4 ft swell from the WNW with a period of 9 seconds, combined energy of 284 (moderate), and the wave comment upgrades to “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” The wind is still cross-on at 6 mph, but it’s a light breeze, so the surface won’t be a complete mess. This is the only day in the whole 16-day run that even gets a score of 1 out of 10, and honestly, that’s the best we’ve got. It’s not a standout, but if you’re desperate, it’s the pick of a very poor bunch.

The days leading into the first week of August (July 31 to August 2) see the swell bumping up to 4 ft – 5 ft, with combined energy in the 200–307 range, so there’s more water moving. But the wind remains stubbornly cross-onshore, and the wave state stays poor. Those waves are going to be choppy and messy. For a beach break setup like this, with that wind and swell size, it’s honestly looking more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The swell is still too small for it to be a danger, but the quality is just not there for a surfer.

So, to sum it up: there’s a massive gap of no decent surf for the first 12 days of this forecast. The only crack at something rideable is the morning of Friday, July 31, and even then it’s marginal. Don’t get your hopes up, but keep an eye on the forecast—things can change. This is a quiet period for the area.

Rusty.

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