San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, mate, we’ve got a long-range look at San Mateo coming up, and I’ll be straight with you – it’s a bit of a mixed bag. This is an advanced point break that’s inconsistent, so we need the stars to align. The water is sitting at a toasty 80°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might be able to lose the full suit.

The overall pattern is dominated by moderate, long-period SW groundswells, but the wind is the real gatekeeper here. The good news is that the swell energy is moderate to strong most of the time – we’re seeing readings between 100 and 526 (moderate wave energy). But the wind is nearly always cross or cross-on, which is gonna chop it up.

The first week is a write-off, really. From Sunday the 16th right through to Friday the 21st of August, conditions are poor. There’s a bit of swell, but the wind is a mess. The one glimmer is Tuesday morning, 18th August. We get a glassy 3ft SW groundswell (16-second period – that’s proper long, so it’ll line up nicely on a point like this) and it’s glassy. That’s a rare moment of clean conditions, but it’s inconsistent here, so you’ll be waiting for sets and the combined energy is moderate (464). Still, that’s probably the best early window. After that, it’s back to choppy cross-on junk until the 21st.

We then hit a dead zone. From Saturday the 22nd right through to Thursday the 27th of August, it’s a proper dry spell. The swell drops off a cliff – we’re talking tiny 1ft to 2ft waves with next to no energy (readings as low as 95 and 137), and the wind is still on it. There’s nothing worth paddling out for.

Now, for the real standout. Circle Friday morning, 28th of August on your calendar. This is the pick of the whole outlook. We’ve got a clean 3ft SW groundswell, with a 15-second period – still plenty of pull. The wind goes cross-offshore, which for San Mateo is as good as it gets – clean face. The combined energy jumps back up to a solid 520 (strong wave energy). It’s the only session in the whole 16 days that looks good, and it’s the clear winner. After that, it’s back to choppy cross-on stuff through the weekend and into the start of September.

So, if you want a wave, your best bet is Friday morning, August 28th at San Mateo. It’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it, but that’s the one true standout. The rest of the time? Bring a towel.

Rusty.

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