Redwood Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s look at what’s shaping up. Straight up, this is a tricky stretch. Redwood Creek is a river mouth that rarely breaks, so we’re not expecting a classic run of clean surf. There are some windows of opportunity, but you’ll need to be patient and pick your moments.

The first real shot at anything rideable won’t come until Thursday, the 16th of July. That morning, we’ve got a 6ft NW swell rolling in, with an 8-second period. The wind is onshore and light, so conditions will be a bit messy but not blown out. The combined wave energy is moderate (737). It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far.

Things get interesting on Friday the 17th. The swell drops to 3ft, but the period jumps to a very long 17 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so expect some texture on the face. The energy is moderate (778). This is a classic case where a long period at a river mouth can produce some lined-up, walled waves, but it can also be a bit too straight and fast. For a surfer who knows this wave, it’s worth a look.

The standout, and I mean the only real standout in the whole 16-day window, is the morning of Wednesday the 22nd of July. The wind goes glassy – dead calm – and we’ve got a solid 6ft NW swell with a 9-second period. The combined energy is moderate (687). The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions,” which is rare around here. This is the one. If you’re free, that’s the morning to be on it. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

After that, the swell builds again. Friday the 24th of July morning sees a 8ft NW swell with a 9-second period and light onshore wind. The energy is strong (1126). That’s getting into expert-only territory, and the wind is onshore, so it’ll be a bit of a battle. Later that afternoon, it’s 10ft and even stronger energy (1536) but with a moderate cross-onshore breeze – that’s big, ugly, and messy. Honestly, that setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

The last week of the window drops off badly. The swell fades to ankle-biting 2ft to 2ft, and the wind stays cross-onshore. Not much to chase there.

So, to wrap it up: the best surf on offer is the glassy morning of Wednesday the 22nd of July. Friday the 17th is a distant second for the novelty of that long-period groundswell. The rest is mostly marginal or poor, and that’s just how it goes at a spot that rarely breaks. Conditions can change, but for now, mark that Wednesday.

Rusty.

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