Refugio State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s see what this stretch has in store for us at Refugio State Beach. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, the outlook is quiet. There’s no real surf to get excited about for the first few days. Thursday the 3rd through Saturday the 5th offer some waist-high groundswell (1ft to 2ft) from the SW, but the conditions are pretty grim with cross-offshore winds and poor surf quality. The swell energy is weak (513), and the rideable stuff is messy. You’re better off waiting.

Things start to look a little more interesting from Sunday the 6th onward. We get a pulse of moderate energy swell (1160) pushing in around 5ft from the south, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a legitimate groundswell – it’s got some punch. The water temperature is sitting at a very unusual 69°, which is much warmer than normal for the time of year, so if you’re paddling out, you won’t need the thickest wetsuit.

The standout window looks to be Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th. Both mornings show light cross-onshore winds and small wind ripples, which should keep the surface reasonably clean. With the swell holding at 5ft from the south and that long period, the waves will have some good shape and power. It’s right in the sweet spot for a beach and point setup like Refugio – not too big for beginners, but enough to keep an intermediate surfer happy. The crowds are a factor here, as it’s often busy, so be ready to share the water.

After Monday, the swell slowly winds down through the week. Tuesday and Wednesday the 9th still offer some waist-to-chest high waves (5ft) from the SSW, but the period drops off, and the cross-shore winds introduce some chop. It’s rideable, but nothing to set an alarm for.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. Thursday the 10th sees a strong onshore wind from the SE at 19 mph, and the surf gets blown out and lumpy. That setup is looking more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest. There’s a real gap in quality after that, with weak, small, and messy conditions dominating the middle of the month. The 17th and 18th bring in a very long-period (20-22 seconds) SW groundswell, but it’s tiny – only 1ft to 2ft. The energy jumps up (497), but the size just isn’t there for a proper ride. It’s a tease.

So, the highlight is clear: Sunday the 6th through Tuesday the 8th is your best bet for clean, chest-high waves from the south, with the best conditions being the mornings. After that, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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