Moss Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on offer at Moss Landing over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – this is a tough one. The whole 16-day window looks like a bit of a write-off for decent surf. There’s barely a moment where the conditions come together for a proper paddle. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf with cross-onshore winds that are just wrecking any chance of clean waves. The swell is coming from the WNW, but the wind is never really on our side, always blowing across the face.

From Friday the 31st of July right through to the end of the first week of August, it’s pretty grim. The swell height bumps up a bit on the 2nd of August, hitting 6 ft with a period of 9-10 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to a moderate 490 (kW/m). But the catch is the wind – it’s a light cross-onshore, which is just enough to put a little bump on the surface. The wave comment calls it "marginal" at best. It’s not going to be worth the drive.

The middle of the week, from the 5th to the 7th of August, the swell drops right off, with heights under 3 ft and energy levels in the low 100s. Definitely not worth paddling out for.

There’s a little flicker of hope around the 8th and 9th of August. The swell bumps up again to 4-5 ft from the WNW, with a period stretching to 11 seconds on the 9th, which gives it a bit more push. The energy climbs back into the moderate range (335-404). But again, that light cross-onshore wind is there, messing up the surface. It’s still looking like a pass for me.

After that, the second week just fades away. The swell drops to tiny 1 ft to 3 ft for most of it, with energy levels in the doldrums. There’s a weird spike on the afternoon of the 14th of August with a 2 ft swell from the SW at a very long 14 seconds, giving a decent energy of 350. But it’s so small and the wind is still cross-onshore, it’s more of a novelty than a session.

The water temperature is sitting at about 59°F, which is normal for this time of year, so no worries there.

Honestly, this feels like a stretch that’s better suited for a kite or a longboard cruise on a flat day, not a proper surf. The wind just never swings offshore, and the swell is always fighting a losing battle. Moss Landing is a fairly exposed spot, but it needs a break. The best you can hope for is a slight improvement on the 2nd of August morning, but even that is a long shot. Hang in there, the forecast can always change.

- Rusty

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