San Mateo Surf Break

Lat Long: 0.95° S 80.83° W

San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 25 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's San Mateo sea temperature is
27.0°C
5.0° 

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 25 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 26 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,314 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s is also forecast. 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 4AM. 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (-05) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Wed 26th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 14s
Best Surf 7AM (Wed 26th Aug)1.5ft (0.4m) 14s
Most Powerful 4AM (Sat 29th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya.

Well, to be straight with you, this 16-day window for San Mateo is a tough one. I’m looking at a lot of days where the wind is just all wrong and the swell is messy. We’ve got a real flat patch on our hands, from today, August 25th, all the way through the end of the month. The best I can see is a serious wait for a small window on Thursday, September 3rd.

Right out of the gate, the forecast for San Mateo, a point break that’s inconsistent at the best of times, is looking pretty grim. We’ve got a cross-shore chop for Tuesday the 25th, with a weak 2ft SW swell and a long 15-second period. The wave energy is moderate at best (204), and with that wind, it’s going to be a messy crumbler. The water temp is about average for this time of year, if that’s any consolation.

The rest of the week stays poor. We see small 1ft to 2ft SW swells with that same long period, but the wind is onshore or cross-shore, chopping everything up. By Friday the 28th, we finally see a pulse of energy, with the combined energy hitting 700 (moderate), but the morning is marginal and the afternoon gets blown out by a cross-onshore breeze. This pattern of almost-there waves getting wrecked by the wind continues straight through the 31st.

Heading into September 1st and 2nd, the story doesn’t change much. There's some energy in the water, but the wind is still a problem. We really have to wait for Thursday morning, September 3rd. That's our one true standout. It's still over a week away, so be a little cautious, but the charts are promising. For a few hours in the morning, we’ll see glassy conditions with a 4ft SW groundswell and a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s the sort of long-period energy that really gets this point working, offering up clean, well-shaped lines. The combined swell energy is a solid 810 (moderate). This will be a session you’ll be kicking yourself for missing if you sleep in.

After that morning glory, it goes right back to being blown out by the afternoon, and the following days are more of the same: building but messy swells with cross and cross-onshore winds. Friday September 4th has a bigger 5ft to 5ft SW swell, but it comes with choppy, onshore winds. That’s going to be a bumpy ride, and waves that size with rough wind are for experts only.

So, to sum it up: the first week-plus is a write-off. The absolute highlight is that Thursday morning, September 3rd. Get on it early, or you’ll miss the one clean window we’ve got in this entire forecast.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue morning, min 23°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri morning, min 23°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds.

Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
2
2
1
1
1
0
1
0
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)
0.6
SW
15
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.3
SW
19
0.3
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
WSW
20
0.9
SW
18
1.2
SW
18
1.5
SW
16
1.5
SW
16
1.5
SW
15
1.5
SW
14
1.2
SW
14
1.2
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1
SW
12
1
SW
12
0.9
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
145
76
74
57
51
111
169
163
253
465
871
1109
1041
924
886
526
503
431
300
286
240
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
30
SW
15
SSW
10
SW
20
WSW
10
SW
10
SW
20
WSW
20
SW
10
SSW
20
WSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
25
SW
20
SSW
15
SSW
30
SW
20
SSW
20
SSW
25
SW
20
SSW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
2:05PM2.04m
2:45AM2.16m
2:47PM2.17m
3:21AM2.32m
3:25PM2.29m
3:53AM2.45m
4:01PM2.39m
4:25AM2.56m
4:37PM2.45m
4:57AM2.62m
5:12PM2.48m
5:30AM2.63m
5:49PM2.46m
Low Tide
8:05AM0.85m
8:23PM0.54m
8:48AM0.71m
9:02PM0.43m
9:26AM0.58m
9:37PM0.34m
10:01AM0.46m
10:10PM0.28m
10:35AM0.36m
10:43PM0.25m
11:09AM0.29m
11:17PM0.26m
11:44AM0.25m
11:53PM0.31m
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:22
6:22
6:20
6:20
6:20
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:28
6:27
6:27
6:27
6:27
6:25
6:25
 mm
Temp °C
26
25
24
25
26
24
26
26
24
27
26
24
25
25
24
26
25
24
25
25
23
Feels °C
25
23
25
27
27
25
27
26
24
28
27
24
26
25
24
25
23
24
24
23
22
  • 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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