Redwood Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good, hard look at what’s on offer at Redwood Creek. This is a river mouth spot that rarely breaks, so when it does, it gets interesting, but it’s a finicky setup. The forecast for the next 16 days kicks off with a few days of poor to marginal conditions, so we’ve got a bit of a wait before the real action starts.

Right off the bat, the first swell shows up on Sunday, July 12th, but it’s not worth paddling out for. The wind is a cross-on from the NW at 6 mph with a 5ft swell from the NW. The water temp is about average for the time of year, but the energy is moderate (626) and the period is short, so it’s just messy. That sets the tone for the next few days. Monday through to Thursday, July 13-16, are all similar stories: small, short-period NW swells, and onshore winds making it choppy. The combined energy drops to the 300s, and the surf is rated poor or marginal. You’re better off staying home.

We hit a dry spell until Friday, July 17, where the swell picks up a bit. The morning brings a 3ft swell from the WNW with a very long 17-second period, and the energy is strong (826). That long period is a huge caveat for a river mouth – it’ll likely break too straight, but there’s potential. The wind is still a cross-on, though, so it’s only marginal. The afternoon gets bigger with a 7ft NW swell, but the period drops to 8 seconds, and the energy is still strong (882). The wind is still cross-on, so it’s not clean.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The standout window is the weekend of July 18-19 and into the following week. Saturday, July 18, is the first real highlight. The morning brings a 7ft NW swell with a 8-second period, but the wind is light and on from the WNW. The energy is very strong (1108). By the afternoon, it bumps to 8ft from the NW with a 9-second period, and energy is up to 1314. The wind stays light and onshore, which is a major positive – it’ll be clean. This is a big swell, over 8ft, so it’s expert territory only. The place might be crowded, as it’s often busy.

Sunday, July 19, holds at 7ft from the NW in the morning, with a very light 3 mph wind from the WNW. The energy is still strong (998). The afternoon sees a 7ft swell with a cross-on wind, so it’s less clean. The real gem shows up on Tuesday, July 21, in the afternoon. The swell is 6ft from the NW, with a 8-second period, and the wind goes glassy from the S at 3 mph. The energy is moderate (688), but it’s described as glassy – that’s a major win. This is the best clean session on offer, though it’s still a decent size, so not for beginners.

The absolute top pick has to be Wednesday, July 22, afternoon. The swell is 8ft from the NW with a 9-second period, and the wind is glassy from the W at 3 mph. The energy is very strong (1226), and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a big, powerful, clean swell hitting a rare-breaking river mouth. It’s going to be a proper session, but expect crowds.

Following that, Thursday, July 23, and Friday, July 24, keep the size up. Friday morning is another glassy gem with a 8ft NW swell and 9-second period, energy at 1330. The wind is from the W, again glassy, so it’s another excellent session for the experienced. The swell is over 8ft, so it’s big and raw.

The long-range stuff into the second week (July 25-27) stays big but gets more onshore. Saturday, July 25, has a 10ft swell on Sunday afternoon, but the wind is troublesome. The final day, Monday, July 27, offers a 3ft, 18-second period swell from the SW, which is promising but a long way out. The forecast is less certain that far ahead.

So, to sum it up: the best bets are the afternoons of Saturday, July 18, and especially Wednesday, July 22, and Friday, July 24, for the cleanest, biggest waves. Tuesday, July 21 afternoon is the glassy, easier-sized option. This is a spot for experts only when it’s over 6ft. It’s a rare break, so when it’s on, don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

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