Moss Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Moss Landing has in store for us over the next couple weeks.

First thing you need to know: the water temp at Moss Landing is running pretty normal for this time of year, nothing wild there. Now, let’s get to the surf. Honestly, for the first full week and a half, it’s a tough stretch. From Thursday the 13th right through until late Tuesday the 27th, we’re looking at a long run of poor conditions. The waves are there, but the wind is a problem.

From Thursday the 13th through Tuesday the 27th of August, it’s all cross-onshore breeze messing things up. The swell is mostly small and weak—around 2 ft to 5 ft from the WNW or SW, with combined energy that starts very low, like 26 (weak) and builds up to moderate readings in the 200-350 range (moderate energy) by the end of the run. But with that constant cross-onshore wind at 6-9 mph, every session is just choppy. Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th are particularly flat, with tiny, weak swell. Even when we see a bump up to 5 ft on Wednesday the 20th and Thursday the 27th, the quality is still poor. The long-period SW swell on the 23rd (19 seconds period) is a groundswell, but that early-morning light breeze gives way to a cross-onshore, ruining the shape.

The only day that even flirts with being worth a paddle is Thursday the 27th of August, in the morning. The forecast shows a 4 ft WNW swell with a period of 8 seconds, and combined energy is strong at 426. The wind is light at 6 mph from the WSW, keeping the surface fairly clean, but it’s still cross-onshore, so it’s a marginal call. The swell is still on the short-period side, so the waves won’t have that punchy, lined-up feel. For the rest, it’s a long, frustrating stretch of closeouts and wind.

So, the standout move here is to wait. The setup for the whole 16-day window is just not good for a paddle. Honestly, with persistent cross-onshore wind and surf that’s generally below waist-high through a lot of it, this is the kind of forecast that looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a surfer with a board. There’s no one day I’d tell you to clear your schedule for. The crowd at Moss Landing can be a factor when it’s good, but with these conditions, you’ll have it to yourself for good reason.

Keep an eye on the longer-range hints around the 27th and 28th, but with that cross-wind, I’m not getting my hopes up. It’s a blank run, and for this area, that’s just how it goes sometimes. Forecasts can change, but right now, you might as well tune up your wax and wait.

Rusty.

Read more