San Jose Rivermouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming our way.

We’ve got a solid run of surf kicking off this weekend, but it’s not all perfect. The first real call is for Saturday morning 25 July at the San Jose Rivermouth. We’re looking at a 4ft SSW swell, but it’s coming in with a cross-onshore breeze, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. The energy is pumping with a reading of 1419, and that swell period is a massive 20 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, meaning long, powerful lines. At a river mouth, those long-period waves should set up nicely, but it’s going to be a bit of a battle with the wind. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Saturday afternoon cleans up nicely. The wind switches to a cross-offshore from the WSW at 12 mph, and the swell pushes up to 6ft from the SSW, with energy jumping to 2175. This is a better window – cleaner faces and more push. Keep an eye on the tide, but this is the pick of the weekend.

Sunday sees the swell holding around 5ft to 5ft, but the wind is a straight cross-shore, creating a bit of chop. The energy is still there (1506 to 1734), but it’s not as clean as Saturday afternoon. The crowds are often here, so expect company.

Monday we get a shift. The morning is still cross-shore with 5ft, but by Monday afternoon the swell jumps to 8ft from the SSE, with a shorter period of 14 seconds. The energy is huge – 4039 – but that’s a lot of water moving around. With a cross-shore wind, it’s going to be a messy, powerful beast. This is for experienced surfers only; beginners, stay on the beach.

Tuesday has a 10ft SSW swell on the way, but it’s lumpy and cross-off. The energy numbers are through the roof (5892 on Tuesday afternoon), but the quality is a mess. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session, honestly.

Wednesday is still big at 10ft, but the wind goes light and cross-off in the morning – that’s the best chance for a clean, big-wave session if you’re an expert. Afternoon gets a fresh 16 mph cross-off, so it’ll be clean but windy.

Then we hit a sweet spot. Thursday morning 30 July is the standout. The swell drops to 6ft from the SW, period is 12 seconds, and the wind is light and cross-off. The energy is 1709 – solid, not insane. The notes say “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the one to circle. Clean, powerful, and manageable. The wind will be kind, and the river mouth will be working.

Thursday afternoon gets a bit hairy with a 22 mph cross-off, so it’s a morning-only show.

From Friday 31 July onward, the surf drops off fast. The swell fades to 4ft, then 3ft, and by the weekend it’s into the 2ft to 2ft range. The energy levels dive into the hundreds. There’s a brief moment on Monday 3 August with a glassy 2ft swell, but it’s tiny. After that, we’re looking at a long stretch of flat, poor conditions right through to 9 August. The waves just aren’t there.

So, the best of the run is Saturday afternoon 25 July for the cleaner, bigger swell, and Thursday morning 30 July for the cleanest, most user-friendly conditions. Don’t sleep on that Thursday window.

Rusty.

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