Refugio State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s talk in feet, Fahrenheit, and miles per hour for this one.

First up, the water is weirdly warm. We’re talking 70°F, which is about 7°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a big deal—feels like the tropics out there.

Thursday morning the 27th is the day to circle. Swell is around 3 ft from the south, with a 12-second period. Wind is glassy from the NE at 3 mph. That’s as clean as it gets. The combined energy is moderate (488). The break is a beach and point, so that south swell wraps in nicely. It’s small enough for beginners to have fun, and the offshore breeze will have it looking like a mirror. This is the absolute standout of the whole 16-day run.

Friday the 28th has smaller surf—2 ft to 2 ft from the SSW—but the wind is a bit stronger from the NW, cross-off, keeping it clean. Energy is moderate (612 and 432). It’s okay, but not as good as Thursday.

Saturday the 29th sees the swell back to 3 ft from the SSW, with a 17-second period. That’s a long period groundswell, which is better for the point side of this break. The wind is a light cross—not bad, but not perfect. Energy is strong (907). Crowds are likely here, so you won’t be alone.

Sunday the 30th through Monday the 31st turns cross-onshore, with swell dropping to 3 ft to 3 ft. Energy drops to 217 to 677. Not worth the paddle.

Tuesday the 1st of September through Wednesday the 3rd is a real slump. Swell falls to 2 ft to 3 ft, wind is onshore or cross-onshore, energy is weak to moderate. Leave the board at home.

Thursday the 3rd brings the biggest wave of the period: 5 ft from the SSW, but the wind is a light cross-onshore in the morning, turning cross-onshore in the afternoon. Energy is moderate (679 and 651). It’s big enough to be fun, but the wind isn’t clean.

From Friday the 4th all the way to Friday the 11th, it’s a long stretch of small surf. Swell sits between 2 ft and 3 ft, with periods ranging 14 to 18 seconds. A lot of that long period, low energy (307 to 461) stuff that won’t really stand up well on a beach-and-point setup without perfect conditions.

Friday the 11th afternoon has a spike: 6 ft from the WNW, but with a terrible period of only 6 seconds and wind blowing 16 mph from the NW. That’s a junky, steep windswell. Clean wind, but it’ll be a mess. Better for kite surfing.

So, the call: Thursday the 27th is your best shot. Glassy, warm, clean surf. The rest is mostly small and quiet with a few average days. A long gap of nothing special from late August into the first week of September, then a messy windswell on the 11th.

Rusty.

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