Moss Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Moss Landing.

We’re looking at a pretty quiet stretch ahead. The good news is this spot is very consistent and fairly exposed, so it tends to have something going on more often than not, but right now we’re in a bit of a flat spell. The first real surf I’d even talk about isn’t until Sunday the 28th, and even then, it’s marginal. Expect a long gap of about a week with almost nothing worth paddling out for.

Let’s break it down. The water temp is sitting at 59°F which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Sunday morning the 19th kicks things off with a tiny 2ft SW swell, but it’s a long-period 17-second groundswell. The combined energy is moderate (565). The problem is the wind is a light cross-on from the WSW, so it’s a bit bumpy. The score is low, and honestly, it’s just not worth the effort. Sunday afternoon gets worse with a bit more wind and chop.

Monday the 20th through to Saturday the 26th is a real write-off. Swell stays small, mostly under 3ft, winds are mostly cross-on, and the combined energy drops into the weak range (under 100 in many cases). The best of a bad lot might be Tuesday morning the 21st with a clean 2ft NW swell and offshore wind, but the period is short (8 seconds) and the energy is weak (33). You might get a knee-high ripple, but it’s more of a cruise than a surf.

Now, things get a little more interesting in the second week. Sunday the 26th afternoon sees a jump in energy with a 3ft SW swell and a very long 19-second period, combined energy of 666 (moderate). But again, the wind is a cross-on 15 km/h (9 mph), so it’s messy. It’s promising but not clean.

The standout – and I mean the only real standout – is Tuesday morning the 28th. We’ve got a 3ft SW swell, a long 17-second period, and a combined energy of 826 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-on from the WSW, which is still a bit of a buzzkill, but this is the best energy we see in the whole 16-day window. The swell direction (SW) is matching the optimum direction for this break (NW? No, wait, the guidance says optimum is NW. So this is a bit off). Still, it’s the biggest energy and a long-period groundswell. For a break like this, the long period might make it a bit straight at the beach, but it’ll still have some push. This is the pick of the week, but it’s still a marginal call with that cross-on wind.

The following days drop off again. Wednesday the 29th has some 5ft to 5ft WNW swell, but the period is short (8 seconds) and the wind is onshore, so it’s just sloppy. Thursday the 30th has a similar story, with a bit more period (9 seconds) but still cross-on.

After that, we’re back to tiny surf for the first few days of August. No real standouts.

So, if you’re itching, Tuesday the 28th morning is your best bet, but keep your expectations in check. The crowds are listed as “sometimes” here, so you might have some company. For the rest of the time, honestly, it’s a good week to wax your board and wait.

Rusty.

Read more