San Mateo Surf Break

Lat Long: 0.95° S 80.83° W

San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 05 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's San Mateo sea temperature is
26.9°C
4.9° 

San Mateo surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


San Mateo surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 15s period, SW swell with 975 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for San Mateo this week:

The most powerful waves expected at San Mateo in the next 16 days are 1.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore 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 TypeTime (-05) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 7AM (Sat 5th Sep)5ft (1.5m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for San Mateo over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here again, same story, different measurement. Let’s talk about San Mateo for the next couple of weeks. Honestly, the outlook is a tough one. The swell is coming from the southwest all the way, and this point really wants a northwest pulse to get cooking. This is going to be a slow grind.

The first half-decent chance isn’t until Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of September. Saturday morning shows a 5-foot SW swell with a solid 15-second period – that’s real groundswell. But the wind is out of the southwest at 9 mph, blowing cross-shore, which will put a bit of a rumple on the face. The combined energy is moderate at 990. Sunday morning is smaller, around 4 feet at 14 seconds, with a lighter 6 mph breeze, still cross-shore, with energy down to 676. These mornings are the best of a mediocre bunch, but don’t expect it to be glassy.

From Monday the 7th through Saturday the 12th, the surf fades badly. Heights drop from 3 feet down to about 2 feet. Winds are mostly cross or cross-onshore, with afternoons getting gusty at 12 to 15 mph, which will chop things up. Wave energy falls from 561 to just 226. It’s a poor stretch of marginal conditions.

There’s a real quiet patch from the 13th to the 16th of September. Swell is tiny, barely reaching 3 feet, and the period is all over the place. Winds stay messy.

The one true standout shows up on Thursday the 17th of September. It’s a tiny morning session, just 3 feet from the southwest at 13 seconds, but the wind is a game-changer. We get a light cross-offshore breeze around 6 mph from the south-southwest. The report calls it "clean" – the only clean window in the whole 16 days. The energy is low at 345, but with an offshore wind and a point break to work with, it will be the most fun you’ll have all forecast. It’s shallow, so it’s doable for a log or a funboard on the inside. After that, it’s back to more onshore chop through the 20th.

This is a long, frustrating run of weather. The only real standout is that Thursday morning the 17th – small but clean. For a spot that’s already inconsistent, a stretch like this isn’t a surprise. We just gotta wait it out, and hope the next forecast brings a change. Stay patient.
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
2
2
0
2
2
0
1
2
0
2
2
0
1
2
0
1
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
SW
15
1.4
SW
15
1.3
SW
14
1.3
SW
14
1.1
SW
14
1
SW
13
1
SW
13
1
SW
13
1
SW
13
0.8
SW
16
0.9
SW
15
1.1
SW
15
0.8
SW
18
1
SW
15
1.3
SW
17
1.2
SW
16
1.2
SW
16
1.1
SW
15
1.1
SW
14
1
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
924
836
736
632
492
340
330
330
318
352
390
525
437
410
918
728
719
557
466
398
285
Wind (km/h)
15
SW
20
WSW
15
SW
10
SW
20
WSW
15
SW
10
SW
20
WSW
20
SSW
15
SSW
25
SW
15
S
15
SSW
25
SW
15
SSW
10
SSW
20
SW
10
SW
10
SSW
20
WSW
10
SW
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
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
3:09PM2.51m
3:36AM2.71m
3:53PM2.59m
Low Tide
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
9:05AM0.33m
9:19PM0.16m
9:48AM0.20m
10:01PM0.12m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:18
6:18
6:18
6:18
6:16
6:16
6:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:23
6:23
6:23
6:22
6:22
6:22
6:22
 mm
2
Temp °C
27
27
25
27
27
25
27
27
25
27
26
25
27
26
25
27
26
25
26
26
25
Feels °C
28
28
28
28
28
27
28
28
26
29
25
26
29
25
26
28
26
27
28
27
27
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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