
Surf Forecasts:
San Mateo surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 20s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,120 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 20s 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 20s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at San Mateo in the next 16 days are 1.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 15s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (-05) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 20s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for San Mateo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for San Mateo, and I’ll level with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead for a point break that’s normally a gem when it’s on. This is an inconsistent spot, and the next 16 days are going to test your patience. We’re looking at a lot of poor surf conditions, with the first real glimmer of hope not showing up until Thursday, 13 August. Even then, we’ve got to wade through some pretty average stuff.
From Saturday 8 August right through until Wednesday 12 August, it’s a write-off. The energy is there – you can see it in the numbers, like Monday morning 10 August with combined swell energy of 688 (moderate to strong) – but the wind is just ruining it. It’s cross-shore or cross-onshore, with a chop that’s going to make you work for nothing. The swell is small, mostly around 1 ft to 3 ft, coming from the SW, which is a bit off the optimum NW direction for this point. Water temps are sitting around 80°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – that anomaly of 8° is very unusual, so you can ditch the wetsuit.
Now, here’s the first little standout. Thursday 13 August morning – we finally get some love. The wind goes glassy from the NNW at 3 mph, and the swell is a clean 2 ft from the SW, with a very long period of 16 seconds. That means groundswell energy and nice, lined-up waves at the point. The combined energy is 422 (moderate). It’s small, but it’ll be clean and fun for a session on the point. Expect good surf conditions. Crowds are possible here at San Mateo, so you’ll want to be early.
Friday 14 August morning has a bit more size – 4 ft from the SW with a 17-second period and energy of 989 (moderate to strong) – but the wind is cross, and it’s marginal. Not a disaster, but not the clean offering of Thursday.
Then, the true standout of the whole forecast lands on Monday 17 August morning. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The wind drops to glassy again – 3 mph from the SW – and the swell holds at a solid 3 ft from the SW, with a 13-second period and combined energy of 592 (moderate). The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” For an inconsistent spot like San Mateo, this is a gift. It’ll be clean, lined up, and perfect for the point. Crowds are possible, so get in there.
After that, it fades back into average wind and poor conditions through to the end of the window, with a brief tease on Sunday 23 August morning when the wind goes cross-off and clean, but the swell is only 2 ft. If you’re desperate, that’s an option.
So, to sum it up: the 13th is a little taste, but Monday 17 August morning is your best bet – glassy, clean, and decent energy for the point. The rest of the run is mostly for the dedicated.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 23°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Tue night, calm by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 20 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
398 | 341 | 212 | 163 | 132 | 136 | 239 | 251 | 375 | 176 | 306 | 353 | 51 | 134 | 147 | 203 | 303 | 901 | 974 | 1039 | 897 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:55AM2.16m | 11:58PM2.05m | 12:13PM2.19m | 1:12AM2.18m | 1:24PM2.28m | 2:15AM2.37m | 2:26PM2.41m | 3:09AM2.56m | 3:20PM2.53m | 3:57AM2.70m | 4:09PM2.61m | 4:41AM2.79m | 4:55PM2.63m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:31PM0.54m | 6:01AM0.78m | 6:45PM0.44m | 7:17AM0.68m | 7:50PM0.30m | 8:21AM0.53m | 8:46PM0.16m | 9:17AM0.38m | 9:36PM0.05m | 10:06AM0.26m | 10:22PM0.01m | 10:52AM0.19m | 11:05PM0.03m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 28 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
398 | 341 | 212 | 163 | 132 | 136 | 503 | 251 | 231 | 176 | 306 | 353 | 217 | 134 | 34 | 22 | 257 | 901 | 974 | 1039 | 897 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | NW 9 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | NW 13 | SW 8 |
3 | 3 | 49 | 42 | 93 | 65 | 239 | 133 | 375 | 181 | 109 | 23 | 51 | 52 | 147 | 203 | 303 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 24 | SW 22 | SW 22 | SW 22 | SW 21 | N 6 | N 6 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 7 | SSW 13 | WSW 18 | SW 20 | NW 12 | — | — | — | NW 13 |
— | 22 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 70 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 31 | 192 | 6 | — | — | — | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | — | — | SW 6 | — | — | SW 6 | SW 6 |
55 | 60 | 41 | 35 | 60 | 40 | 24 | 24 | 41 | 58 | 77 | 64 | 91 | 71 | — | — | 26 | — | — | 24 | 31 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 310 | 912 | 7 | 310 | 805 | 7 | 7 | 954 | 310 | 11 | 912 | 111 | 7 | 1052 | 141 | 0 | 1054 | 307 | 141 | 141 | 7 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Manabi | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











