Refugio State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s get into it.

Right now, things are looking pretty quiet here at Refugio State Beach. We’ve got a long stretch ahead with only marginal surf, so don’t expect any fireworks for the next couple of weeks.

The best we’ll see in the near term is on Sunday, September 6th. We’ve got a south swell rolling in at 4 ft to 5 ft, with a period of 13 to 14 seconds. That’s a solid groundswell, and the combined energy is moderate at 815 to 874. The wind is light, but it’s onshore or cross-onshore, so it’s not going to be glassy. It’ll be okay for a beginner-friendly wave, but nothing special. This break is fairly consistent and can handle a west swell, so the direction is alright.

The surf drops off quickly after that. Monday, September 7th, still has some waist-high waves, but the wind stays a bit messy. By Tuesday and Wednesday, the swell fades to under 3 ft, and we’re dealing with long-period groundswell from the southwest. That period is over 16 seconds, which means the waves will be really lined up and fat at this beach-and-point setup. It’s more of a point break situation, but with such small size, it’s barely breaking.

The second week, from around September 14th to the 21st, is basically a flat spell. Wave heights drop to 1 ft to 3 ft, with combined energy falling into the weak range (189 to 463). The wind is mostly light and onshore, but the swell is just too small to do anything with. It’s a blank run for sure.

The only stand-out window comes late on Saturday, September 12th. The swell bumps up to 5 ft to 6 ft, but the period is short—only 6 to 8 seconds. That’s windswell, not groundswell, so the waves will be lumpy and close together. The wind turns cross-offshore in the afternoon though, so it might clean up for a short session. But honestly, with that short period, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

There’s no real standout here. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, no anomaly to speak of. If you’re desperate, the best bet is Sunday morning, September 6th for the cleanest small waves, or the Saturday afternoon windswell if you’re into choppy, short-period stuff. Otherwise, wait for the next system.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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