Redwood Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Redwood Creek.

To be straight with you, this is a tough stretch. Redwood Creek is a river break that rarely breaks, and for the first week and a half of this 16-day window, the conditions are just not cooperating. The winds are persistently cross-onshore or straight onshore, and the surf quality is either poor or marginal at best. The water temperature is sitting at 55°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn't show up until Friday the 17th in the afternoon. That’s a solid 7-day gap of nothing worth paddling out for. On that Friday afternoon, the wind goes glassy out of the west at a mere 3 mph, and we get a clean 3 ft swell from the WNW with a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (772). That long period groundswell is the kind of energy that can really wrap into a river mouth like this, but remember, with a period that long, the waves can be a bit too straight and fat for a beach setup, but at a river break, it can be a dream. The score for that session is about as good as it gets here, and it’s the standout of the whole forecast.

The next morning, Saturday the 18th, is still worth a look. The swell holds at 3 ft from the WNW, still with that very long 16-second period, and the combined energy is strong (820). The wind is a slight cross-onshore out of the west, but it’s light, so the surface should still be workable. By the afternoon, the wind goes onshore from the NW, so the morning is the pick.

After that, we slide back into marginal conditions. There’s a pulse of 5 ft to 6 ft NW swell around the 20th and 21st, but it’s short period (8 seconds) and the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, keeping it choppy and messy. The combined energy is moderate (around 600-660), but it’s not going to be any good.

Interestingly, towards the very end of the outlook, around Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th, the swell bumps up to 7 ft from the NW with a period of 9 seconds. That’s getting into the "too big for beginners" range, and at 7 ft, it’s approaching expert-only territory. The combined energy is strong (868 and 785). The wind is onshore in the mornings, so the surface is unknown, but it’s a lot of water moving around. It’s something to keep an eye on, but it’s a long way off and the wind is a big question mark.

If you’re a paddle surfer, this is a waiting game. The only real standout is that glassy Friday afternoon on the 17th. For the rest of the time, with the persistent onshore wind and the short-period, choppy conditions, this setup might actually be more interesting for a kite surfer than a surfer with a paddle. The water’s about average temp, and the crowd is listed as "often" here, so you won’t be alone when it’s good.

Rusty.

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