Refugio State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for us.

Right off the bat, it’s a slow start. The surf is pretty lackluster for the first week. We’ve got small, mostly junky swell and less-than-ideal winds most days. The best bet in the whole 16-day window is Thursday afternoon, July 9th at Refugio State Beach. That afternoon we see a 6ft swell out of the WNW, and the wind goes glassy. That’s the standout. The wave energy is significant at 954 (moderate), but the real key is the clean, smooth conditions. That’s your session to circle. Earlier that morning, the swell is around 7ft (WNW) with a light cross-onshore, so it’s still rideable but not as clean. The water temp is around average for this time of year.

For the rest of the first week, it’s small and choppy. Morning of Wednesday, July 8th, has a 3ft (SSW) swell with a light cross-onshore, not great. The afternoon of that same day sees a 7ft (WNW) swell but with a moderate cross-offshore wind and a short period of 8 seconds—it’ll be a bit lumpy and sectiony, better for a more experienced surfer if you're keen. The energy on that one is 959 (moderate).

After the 9th, the surf drops off again. Friday the 10th through the end of the first week and into the second week is a real lull. We’re talking mostly 1ft to 3ft swell, onshore or cross-onshore winds, and marginal conditions. There’s a long gap with no real recommendations. A glimmer shows on Thursday morning, July 16th, with a tiny 1ft swell from the WNW, but it has a very long period of 21 seconds and glassy conditions, so there might be a few clean, peeling waves if you’re on a log or a longboard.

The second week is a waiting game. A little bump in energy appears around the 20th and 21st, with swell building to 4ft to 4ft from the S, but the winds are mostly onshore or cross-onshore, so quality is questionable. Nothing else really stands out as a must-surf.

Refugio is a beach-and-point setup, pretty exposed to the west. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but be aware that crowds are possible here, especially if conditions glass off like they do on that Thursday afternoon. The longer-period swells (over 15 seconds) can make the waves a bit straight at the beach, so the point might hold up better on the bigger days.

In short, if you want clean waves, your window is tight: Thursday afternoon, July 9th. Anything else is a gamble or a longboard mission. If it stays poor, it won’t last forever—forecasts change.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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