Redwood Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks. We’re only looking at one spot this time, and it’s a tricky one.

It’s a quiet start, with no real surf to speak of for the first couple of days. Things start to look a little more interesting come Wednesday the 16th, but it’s still a waiting game. The standout period is really the weekend of the 19th and 20th, and then a late run around the 24th and 27th, but it’s never going to be pumping.

Redwood Creek (California) is a river mouth, and it’s a tricky one. It rarely breaks, so when it does, it’s a special event. The water temp is about 55°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real glimmer of hope is on Thursday morning, July 17th. We’ve got a clean offshore wind from the WNW, with a 3 ft swell from the WNW. It’s a long-period groundswell at 17 seconds, which is great for shape and power, but at a river mouth that can make it a bit straight. The combined energy is strong at 805. It’s a light breeze, so conditions will be clean. Expect a tricky, powerful wave for experts only.

The next real chance is on Saturday, July 19th. The morning looks good with a 6 ft swell from the NW and a light offshore wind (WNW). The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s more of a windswell, but the energy is very strong (849). It’s still a bit of a gamble with the tide, but it’s the best size we see. At 6 ft, it’s getting too big for beginners.

The last real standout is a curious one. On Friday afternoon, July 24th, the wind goes glassy, and we get a 2 ft swell from the SW with a massive 24-second period. The combined energy is moderate (546). This is an incredibly long period groundswell. It will be clean and glassy, but the swell is tiny. It’ll be a very slow, long wait between sets, and it’s likely to peel beautifully at the river mouth if it can get in. This is a true specialty wave.

Overall, this is a spot for the patient expert. The water is about average for the season. The consistent lack of clean conditions and the fact it rarely breaks means the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on the days with stronger cross-onshore wind. Don't hold your breath, but keep an eye on the 17th and the 24th.

Rusty.

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