
Surf Forecasts:
Salinas River State Beach surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, WNW swell with 394 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Salinas River State Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Salinas River State Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Salinas River State Beach in the next 16 days are 1.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Salinas River State Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break it down.
To be honest, the next couple of weeks are a real slow burn. The first half of the period is a total dud, with four or five days of flat, choppy junk. The first decent shot at a wave doesn’t show up until Sunday the 9th, and it’s nothing to get amped about. Water temp at Salinas River State Beach is 59°F, which is dead normal for this time of year – nothing weird there.
For the whole 16-day run, we’ve got a constant light cross-onshore breeze messing up the surface. Wave energy is mostly in the low to mid hundreds – weak to moderate – and never really gets pumping.
From Tuesday the 4th through Saturday the 8th, don’t bother. We’re talking knee-high slop from the WNW and SW, with periods around 8-9 seconds. Energy stays under 300. Total washout.
Sunday morning the 9th, we finally see a pulse: 4ft from the WNW at 10 seconds. Energy hits 514 – moderate. It’s still cross-on and rated “marginal,” but it’s the first real option. Monday the 10th morning bumps up to 5ft from the WNW (542 energy), but still with that light onshore crud.
The one session to circle on your calendar is the morning of Saturday the 15th. We’ve got 3ft from the SSW, but the period stretches to 16 seconds – long-period groundswell. Energy is strong at 608. The catch? It’s a long-period SSW swell hitting a W-exposed beach, so it’ll wrap in. If that light cross-on stays light, you might score some clean, lined-up waves. For the advanced crew, this is the one.
Otherwise, it’s mostly poor or marginal. The week of the 12th through the 18th offers some marginal tags with 2-3ft swells and periods in the 14-16 second range, but that onshore breeze keeps it messy for paddle surfing. This exposed beach setup with steady cross-onshore wind at 6-9 mph might actually be better for kite surfing than for a shortboard.
Bottom line: the morning of Saturday the 15th is your best bet. The rest is a whole lot of waiting.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
137 | 76 | 72 | 72 | 99 | 85 | 84 | 84 | 140 | 210 | 104 | 318 | 166 | 291 | 296 | 332 | 305 | 340 | 280 | 212 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:15PM1.50m | 3:56AM0.98m | 3:58PM1.58m | 5:38AM0.89m | 4:52PM1.66m | 7:23AM0.91m | 5:53PM1.75m | 8:41AM0.97m | 6:56PM1.84m | 9:36AM1.05m | 7:57PM1.92m | 10:19AM1.12m | 8:55PM1.97m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:08PM0.36m | 9:07AM0.53m | 11:25PM0.22m | 9:53AM0.66m | 00:40AM0.06m | 10:56AM0.76m | 1:45AM-0.11m | 12:13PM0.81m | 2:43AM-0.25m | 1:28PM0.79m | 3:34AM-0.35m | 2:35PM0.73m | 4:21AM-0.39m | |||||||
— | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 16 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
137 | 76 | 40 | 44 | 99 | 43 | 28 | 84 | 84 | 210 | 83 | 318 | 52 | 291 | 296 | 332 | 305 | 340 | 280 | 212 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 7 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
35 | 74 | 72 | 72 | 21 | 85 | 84 | 28 | 140 | 82 | 104 | 42 | 166 | 55 | 196 | 169 | 167 | 160 | 102 | 101 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | NW 9 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SW 18 | WNW 8 | W 15 | WNW 7 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 20 | SW 19 |
36 | 13 | 24 | 19 | 22 | 37 | 38 | 80 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 36 | 56 | 56 | 28 | 5 | 24 | 24 | 98 | 96 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 0 | 127 | 22 | 0 | 127 | 170 | 0 | 27 | 320 | 0 | 102 | 27 | 0 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 102 | 27 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Monterey | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Salinas River State Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Salinas River State Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Salinas River State Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Salinas River State Beach surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Salinas River State Beach) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Salinas River State Beach may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Salinas River State Beach is 8 km (5 miles) from Neponset. If you plan a vacation in Monterey, look for hotels and other accommodation in Neponset. Neponset has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











