Redwood Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, we’ve got a quiet stretch ahead. The first few days are pretty flat and sloppy, so don’t rush out. The real potential starts to build from the second weekend onward, with a solid pulse of swell arriving late in the window.

The first real chance to wet a line comes Tuesday, July 14th, but it’s a tough sell. Redwood Creek is seeing tiny 1ft to 2ft swell from the west, with a long period of 14 seconds, but the wind is on it or cross-onshore, and the wave energy is weak to moderate (132 to 191). The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is bang on average for this time of year. Honestly, it’s poor surf—not worth paddling out for.

Wednesday, July 15th, offers a slight bump. The morning shows 4ft from the north-west at 10 seconds, but it’s wind-affected and the energy is moderate (470). It’s still marginal, with a cross-onshore breeze. The afternoon sees 4ft, but the wind picks up and it’s choppy. This is a pass for me.

Thursday, July 16th, drops back down to 2ft and 2ft, with a long period but strong cross-onshore winds making it messy. The energy is moderate (445 to 551). Not worth it.

Friday, July 17th, shows some promise. The morning has 3ft from the west-northwest with a very long 17-second period, and the wind is light offshore. The energy is strong (865), but the swell size is small. Still, it’s a clean window. The afternoon jumps to 6ft from the north-west but with a short 8-second period and onshore wind. That’s a messy, fat wave.

Saturday, July 18th, is a mixed bag. The morning has 3ft from the west-northwest at 16 seconds, light offshore, with strong energy (766). Clean, but small. The afternoon sees 6ft from the north-west at 8 seconds, again onshore. Short period, weak shape.

Then we hit the standout. Sunday, July 19th, afternoon – this is the best on offer in the first week. Redwood Creek cleans up with 4ft from the north-west at 8 seconds, but the wind goes glassy. Light offshore in the morning, then glass in the afternoon. The energy is strong (628). It’s not a massive swell, but the conditions will be pristine. This is a rare, clean moment for a river break that rarely breaks, so keep an eye on the tides. Crowds are often an issue here, so expect company.

After that, we slide into a flat spell. Monday, July 20th, through to Thursday, July 23rd, sees tiny 2ft to 2ft swell from the south-west, with light winds but marginal quality. The energy drops from moderate to weak (542 down to 162). Not worth the drive.

Now, look ahead to the second week. Saturday, July 25th, afternoon – the swell jumps to 7ft from the north-west, but with a short 8-second period and a moderate cross-onshore wind. The energy is very strong (1007). This is big, but it’s messy and choppy, only for experts.

Sunday, July 26th, afternoon – this is the big one. Redwood Creek sees 10ft from the north-west at 9 seconds, with a moderate cross-onshore breeze. The energy is massive (1778). This is a full-on, powerful swell, but it’s punching into a beach-and-river setup with cross-onshore wind. Honestly, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The swell is too big, the period is short, and the wind is wrong. Only for the most experienced, and even then, it’s a battle.

Monday, July 27th, morning is the other standout in the second week. Swell is 7ft from the north-west at 9 seconds, with light offshore wind. The energy is very strong (1082). This is the cleanest of the big swells, and it’s the best bet for experienced surfers later in the window. Still, with a 9-second period, it’s more of a wind swell, so don’t expect perfect lines.

Tuesday, July 28th, holds 6ft to 7ft, but the wind is cross-onshore, and the energy drops to moderate (781 to 695). Messy.

Wednesday, July 29th, fades to 5ft to 6ft, with onshore winds and low energy (490 to 597). The window closes without much fanfare.

So, to sum it up: the best clean surf is Sunday, July 19th afternoon – small but glassy. For the big stuff, Monday, July 27th morning is your best shot, but it’s for experts only. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty out.

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