Salinas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, my friends, Rusty here. Let's break down what we've got coming our way. It's a bit of a slow burner, but there's some serious juice later on if you're patient.

The first few days are pretty quiet. Sunday the 2nd has a tiny 4ft pulse from the ENE, but it’s clean with glassy conditions and no wind, making for some fun little waves. The water is sitting at 64°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than normal for this time of year, so it's nice. Through Monday and Tuesday, the swell stays small, under 5ft, and the wind starts to mess things up, so don't get your hopes up.

There's a long stretch from the middle of the week into the next weekend where the conditions are just poor or choppy. Nothing really worth the trip until the 8th. On Saturday the 8th, we get a late afternoon glass-off, with a 5ft SSW pulse. The energy jumps to 478 and it’s clean, so that could be a sneaky little window if you're quick.

But the real standout is Sunday the 9th into Monday the 10th. Now we’re talking. A solid 7ft to 7ft S groundswell, with a long 11-12 second period, rolls in. Wind is offshore from the WNW on Sunday, then glassy on Monday morning. Combined wave energy climbs from 904 all the way up to 1395, so there’s proper power behind it. This one is for experienced surfers only—over 8ft, it’s expert territory. The swell comes from the S and the optimum direction for Salinas is SSE, so it’s a pretty good match. These waves will have some punch and shape, and the clean offshore flow will make for some beautiful lines. Monday afternoon the wind swings onshore, so get it early.

After that, the swell hangs around but the wind gets ugly from the 11th through the 14th. Cross-shore and onshore breezes with some lumpy conditions make it hard work. The southerly swell at 6ft to 4ft is still there, but it’s not clean.

Then we get one more little pop on the 15th. Saturday the 15th looks promising—6ft to 7ft of ENE windswell with a short 8-second period, so it’s not a groundswell, but the wind goes offshore from the W and WNW. Combined energy at 549 to 655 is moderate, and it’ll be clean with offshore conditions. For the intermediate surfer, that’s a decent session. Sunday the 16th sees the swell building to 8ft, but the cross-onshore wind will make it messy and it’s getting into big, lumpy territory.

All in all, the best bets on offer are the Sunday the 9th morning session and the Monday the 10th dawn patrol for the experienced crew, and then the Saturday the 15th morning for those looking for cleaner, more manageable waves.

Rusty.

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