San Elijo State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s in the water for the next couple of weeks. It’s a pretty quiet stretch for our local spot, but the water is feeling like a bathtub—coming in at 77°F, which is *much warmer than normal* for the season. At least the chill is off.

We’re looking at San Elijo State Beach. The first few days, starting Wednesday August 5th, are all about tiny, gutless swell. Waves are mostly 2ft to 3ft from the SW and SSW. The wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, which is wrecking any chance of clean lines. The combined energy is moderate, sitting between 139 and 500, but the reports are all “poor surf conditions” or “marginal.” It’s a slow start.

Friday the 7th morning has a little blip: a 2ft SSW swell, but with a long 19-second period. That’s a groundswell, and for a beach and reef setup like San Elijo, long period swells can break too straight and be tricky to read. The wind is light and offshore, so it’s the cleanest moment of the early window, but the quality is still questionable. The combined energy hits 500, which is the highest of the first week.

The second week is where things get a little more interesting. Around Saturday the 15th, we see a proper build. Swell heights hit 3ft to 4ft from the SSW, with combined energy in the 700s and 800s—that’s moderate energy, and a real step up. The problem? The wind turns gentle cross-onshore, which chops up the surface. The waves have more push, but they’re not clean. This messy pattern holds through Sunday the 16th and into Monday the 17th, with similar 3ft to 3ft SSW swell.

The best window for a proper surf is Friday the 14th through Saturday the 15th. The swell is building, and the morning of the 15th has 3ft of SSW swell with a 16-second period and light offshore wind. That’s the cleanest, most powerful session in the whole forecast. For a beginner, 3ft is a bit of a challenge, but for a confident surfer, it’s a fun size. The crowds at San Elijo are “often” a problem, so expect a lineup on that morning.

After the 15th, the swell fades fast. The last week of the forecast is back to tiny 2ft to 3ft waves, onshore wind, and poor surf. There’s a real dry spell of several days with nothing to recommend.

So, the long story short: the first week is a wash. The best bet is the morning of the 15th with building, clean swell. After that, it’s time to find another hobby. Forecasts can change, but for now, don’t paddle out expecting much.

Rusty.

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