Salinas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days at Salinas are a real mixed bag, and honestly, there’s not a whole lot to get stoked about. The first few days are a write-off – we’re talking small, weak, and messy. Thursday afternoon the 16th kicks off a run of pretty poor conditions, with the swell trying to pick up but the wind just ruining it. That bloody cross-onshore wind just won’t let up. We’ve got a proper stretch of days where the energy is moderate to strong – around (760) to (952) on the 17th and 18th – but the surface is choppy and lumpy. That’s more of a kite session than a paddle session, if you ask me.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Monday morning, the 20th of July. We’ve got a glassy morning with light rain, and the swell is a clean 6 ft from ENE with a 9-second period. The combined energy is moderate (464), and it’s the first time we see a “good” wave comment. That’s the best early call, but it’s a short window.

Now, if you’ve got patience, the standout window is around the end of the month. Sunday morning, the 26th of July is looking tasty. It’s dead glassy, and we’ve got a 4 ft swell from the S with a long 11-second period, and the energy is pumping at (512). That’s a very good sign for clean, lined-up waves. That’s the one to circle on the calendar.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon, the 29th, we finally get an offshore wind. The swell is a solid 7 ft from ENE with an 8-second period, and the energy is strong at (681). The wind is light and offshore from the W, so it’s going to be clean. That’s a proper session for the more experienced crew, as it’s getting a bit chunky for beginners.

A couple of days later, Thursday morning the 30th of July, we’ve got another solid one. A 8 ft ENE swell with a 9-second period, and the energy is up there at (907). The wind is light and cross-off from the SSW, so it’ll be clean again. Another one for the experts.

For the rest of the time, it’s a lot of cross-on wind and chop. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there in the first session. The break itself is a beach-and-pier setup, and it rarely breaks, so don’t get your hopes up for consistent waves. When it’s on, it’s on, but there’s a lot of waiting in between.

So, to sum it up: the best bets are the glassy Monday morning the 20th, and then the standout Sunday morning the 26th with that long-period S swell. The offshore wind sessions on the 29th and 30th are also worth a look, but they’re for the bigger-wave hunters.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the sky.

Rusty.

Read more