Surf Forecasts:
San Mateo surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,314 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for San Mateo this week:
The surf forecast for San Mateo over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at San Mateo in the next 16 days are 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for San Mateo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's get into it. I’ve been staring at the charts for San Mateo, and honestly, it's a bit of a rough stretch for us. We’ve got a 16-day window here, but it’s looking like a whole lot of nothing for a while, with only a couple of short, marginal windows where you might just get wet.
Right off the bat, we’re looking at a gap of about two days with no real surf on offer. Then, from Friday the 4th through to Monday the 7th, things get a little interesting but not great. It’s inconsistent, and you’ll be scratching for waves. The standout of the whole period is probably Friday morning, the 4th. The swell is bumping up a bit to about 5 feet from the southwest, coming with a clean 16-second period. There’s decent energy in the water (1133), and with a light breeze, it might be the only time things line up halfway decently. San Mateo is a point break, which loves that long-period southwest groundswell, but don't expect a line-up of friends; it’s inconsistent, so be patient. This spot is for advanced surfers anyway, given the conditions.
That Friday morning window is your best shot. After that, Saturday the 5th through Monday the 7th is a downgrade. The swell hangs in there at around 5 feet but gets messier, and the winds go cross-onshore in the afternoons, chopping it all up. Mornings are your only hope, and they’re only marginal at best.
From Tuesday the 8th through to the 17th, it’s a long, drawn-out, sad story. The waves just fade away. The energy drops, the consistency goes out the window, and the winds are a persistent problem. There are a few mornings, like the 9th, 10th, and 16th, where the breeze is light, but the swell is just too small to be worth the paddle. We’re talking 2 to 3 feet, with long periods that will make it wall and close out. It’s a real grim stretch, and honestly, with the wind and small surf, it’s more of a kite-surfing week than a surfing one. Don't get your hopes up.
Hang in there. Sometimes it stays flat like this, but it never lasts forever.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 702 | 1710 | 1123 | 1314 | 1068 | 924 | 836 | 736 | 632 | 492 | 340 | 330 | 380 | 318 | 352 | 390 | 525 | 437 | 410 | 929 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:03PM2.18m | 8:18AM2.26m | 9:06PM2.07m | 9:24AM2.12m | 10:26PM2.01m | 10:46AM2.06m | 11:52PM2.06m | 12:10PM2.10m | 1:06AM2.22m | 1:21PM2.23m | 2:04AM2.41m | 2:19PM2.38m | 2:53AM2.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:05AM0.64m | 2:46PM0.51m | 3:10AM0.77m | 3:58PM0.59m | 4:33AM0.85m | 5:20PM0.59m | 6:02AM0.81m | 6:37PM0.51m | 7:16AM0.67m | 7:40PM0.37m | 8:15AM0.49m | 8:33PM0.25m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 30 | 25 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 702 | 1710 | 1123 | 1314 | 1068 | 924 | 836 | 736 | 632 | 492 | 340 | 330 | 380 | 228 | 352 | 390 | 525 | 437 | 410 | 929 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | WNW 11 | SSW 6 | WNW 9 | SW 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | WNW 12 |
| kJ | 114 | 11 | 31 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 47 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 19 | 199 | 304 | 318 | 139 | 139 | 184 | 261 | 375 | 53 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | W 11 | WNW 10 | W 12 | WNW 9 | NW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 8 | SW 21 | SW 21 | SW 19 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NW 12 | NW 12 | NW 12 | — |
| kJ | 13 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 68 | 184 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 36 | 35 | 35 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 5 | — | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SW 6 |
| kJ | 207 | 36 | — | 47 | 39 | 62 | — | 21 | 15 | 19 | — | 10 | — | 15 | 12 | 27 | 23 | 23 | 46 | 51 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 920 | 102 | 141 | 938 | 111 | 7 | 938 | 141 | 7 | 141 | 141 | 7 | 766 | 102 | 7 | 938 | 11 | 7 | 938 | 141 |
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Information about the San Mateo Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for San Mateo provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at San Mateo can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our San Mateo 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 (San Mateo) 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 San Mateo 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Manabi? If you are looking for accommodation near San Mateo, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Manabi, consider staying in Manta which is 11 km (7 miles) away. Other places in and around Manabi where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Montecristi which is 21 km (13 miles) away, Portoviejo, Jipijapa and Sucre.
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