Moss Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks at Moss Landing.

Honestly, straight up, it’s a tough stretch. We’ve got a solid block of time here where the surf just isn't cooperating. The wind is stuck in a cross-onshore pattern, and the quality drops off a cliff. There’s no real standout session for a while, so if you’re looking to paddle out, you’re going to have to be patient.

The first few days are a write-off. Starting Saturday, August 1st, we’ve got weak 4 ft swell from the WNW with an 8 second period and light cross-onshore wind. The energy is weak (157), and the wave comment says it all: poor surf conditions. That carries right through the weekend and into the start of the following week. There’s a slight bump on Sunday morning, the 2nd, with the swell hitting 6 ft and a 10 second period, and the energy climbs into the moderate range (511), but that cross-onshore wind just chops it all up. It’s still a marginal call at best, not the kind of thing you’d drive for. By Monday afternoon, the 3rd, it’s back to poor conditions.

Things don't improve for days. In fact, from the 3rd right through to the 11th of August, it’s a constant stream of poor to marginal surf. The swell height jumps around a bit, but the wind never gives us a break. It’s always that light cross-onshore breeze. The energy stays low for the most part, dipping as low as 117 on the 8th. It’s a real dry spell. On the 9th, the swell bumps up again to 4 ft with a 10-second period, but it’s the same story – cross-onshore wind and poor conditions.

Now, we start to see something a little different around Wednesday, August 12th. The swell direction swings to the SW, and we get a very long period at 18 seconds. The energy is moderate (276), but the wave comment still says marginal. That long-period groundswell has potential, but at a beach break like Moss Landing, it can break too straight. With the continuing cross-onshore wind, it’s a tough sell. That lingers for a couple of days, but the swell is tiny, only 2 ft.

The final days of the outlook, from the 14th to the 16th, the swell comes back from the WNW, 3 ft to 4 ft, but the wind is still that pesky cross-onshore. We get a slight break on Sunday the 16th morning, the wind drops to only 3 mph, but it’s still from the west, creating those small wind ripples. The energy is moderate (380), and the forecast says “marginal surf.” It’s the best the period has to offer, but it’s not exactly screaming for a dawn patrol. Crowds are possible here when it gets even a little bit of shape, so keep that in mind if you do decide to go.

So, what’s the best on offer? Honestly, there are no standouts. If you are desperate for a paddle, the most promising window is probably the morning of Sunday, August 16th, where the wind is lightest, and we have some moderate energy. But keep your expectations low. For anything beyond a longboard or a funboard in weak, crumbly waves, you’re going to be disappointed. I’d say sit this one out and wait for the patterns to shift.

Rusty.

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