San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up at San Mateo over the next couple of weeks.

The outlook is a mixed bag, to be honest. We’ve got a solid long-period groundswell running through the beginning of the week, but the wind is going to be a constant battle. The standout window is looking like Wednesday morning, the 29th of July, with clean conditions. After that, it’s a long, drawn-out fade with a lot of cross-chop and onshore junk.

The first real action is on Monday, the 27th of July. The morning brings a 4 ft SW swell with a very long 18-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1147. The problem is the wind is a light cross-shore, not clean, so expect some ripples on the face. It’s a little messy early. The afternoon goes downhill fast with a moderate cross-onshore wind and a score that suggests it’s not worth paddling out.

Tuesday the 28th stays pretty average. That 5 ft SW swell is still pushing through with a 16-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore all day. It’s choppy and lumpy, a real battle.

Now, Wednesday the 29th of July is the highlight. Early morning, the wind goes light and cross-offshore, and the sea cleans up. We’ve got a 5 ft SW swell, 15-second period, and the energy is still solid at 845. The forecast says “very good surf conditions,” and honestly, that’s the truth. This is your best shot. The face will be clean, with those longer-period lines making it easier to paddle out. After that, the wind switches onshore again by the afternoon, and it’s back to average.

From Thursday the 30th of July right through to the middle of the second week, the swell is dropping out and the wind is a constant issue. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions. The swell drops from 4 ft to 2 ft over several days, and the energy falls from 467 all the way down to 117. The wind is mostly cross-shore, often from the SW, with a moderate chop. It’s a classic summer lull, and the consistency is just not there.

There is a slight lift in the second week, around the 6th and 7th of August. The swell tries to push back up to 3 ft-3 ft, and we see some longer-period energy again (16-18 seconds), but the wind is still not playing ball. It’s cross-shore or cross-onshore, keeping the surf choppy and marginal. The combined energy peaks around 680-791, which is moderate, but the quality is just not there.

The very end of the run, around the 11th of August, the swell is tiny (1 ft) and the energy is weak (134). Not worth getting the board wet for.

So, to wrap it up: Wednesday morning, the 29th of July, is your one true standout. Get on it early, because the rest of the forecast is a long wait for something better. San Mateo is an inconsistent spot, and this is one of those stretches where you have to pick your window.

Stay stoked, and I’ll see you in the water.
Rusty

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