Refugio State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' at Refugio State Beach over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you, the start of this run is pretty quiet. There's no real surf of note kicking off the forecast, just some tiny, weak bumps that won't get you excited. We're looking at a gap where the conditions just aren't there for a proper session, mainly small, weak swell and a bit of a cross-shore breeze messing with things. Things start to look a little more promising after that first quiet spell.

The water is sittin' at a very warm 69°F, which is a good 6°F warmer than what you'd usually expect for this time of year. That's pretty unusual, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.

Let's get to the real talk. The first day where you might want to paddle out is Saturday, August 17 . Not that there's any notable rideable swell, it's just when the outlook starts. The real standout action, and the best bet of the whole forecast, is shaping up for Tuesday afternoon, August 27. Now, we're talkin' a bit of a wait, but the models are suggesting a jump in swell energy. We'll see a 6 ft swell rolling in from the WNW. The real key here is the wind: it's gonna be a clean, cross-off breeze from the NW at 9 mph. That's gonna put a nice face on the waves at Refugio. The combined swell energy will be a solid moderate (570), and while the period is short at 8 seconds, that clean wind is a massive plus for this spot. It's a beach and point setup, so that offshores will clean things right up. Keep in mind this is a long-range call, so it's a promising one but not locked in stone yet.

Another session to keep an eye on is Saturday morning, August 31. You'll get similar sized surf at 6 ft from the WNW, again with a short period (8 seconds). The combined energy is even stronger here, pushing into the strong range (947). The wind is a light cross-shore, which isn't as good as clean offshore, but it's still workable and better than a straight onshore.

Look, Refugio can get crowded, so expect to see some company, especially if the surf is clean. For the beginners out there, that 6 ft swell might be pushing your limit a touch, so just be mindful of that.

The rest of the period is a mixed bag. There are a few other days with a bit of swell, like the 6 ft on Wednesday, September 4, but the wind is more onshore or cross-on, which just chops things up. You get the odd afternoon with clean conditions, like a cross-off wind, but the swell is usually tiny or the energy is weak.

So, to sum it up: it's a slow start, but keep your eyes on that Tuesday afternoon, August 27 for the cleanest potential, and Saturday morning, August 31 for the most pure energy.

Rusty.

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