San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

In Imperial

Alright folks, let's break down what's coming for San Mateo. It's a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. We've got some decent swell, but the timing and the wind are going to keep you on your toes. The water is sitting at a very unusual 80°, which is way warmer than you'd expect for this time of year.

The big story is the swell coming in on Friday, September 4th. It's a solid 5 feet from the SW with a long 16-second period, bringing in a lot of energy (1164). The morning looks the best with a light cross breeze and some clouds. It's not perfect, but it's the best we've got to start. The afternoon kicks up to a messy 16 mph cross-onshore, so get out early.

Saturday the 5th is a step down. The swell holds at 5 feet, and the period is still a nice 15 seconds, but that morning wind is a moderate 12 mph cross-shore, and the afternoon just gets choppy again. The combined energy is still around 1005, so there's push, but the surface is going to be a bit of a mess.

The trend continues through Sunday and Monday, with the swell fading slowly from 4 feet down to 3 feet. The mornings offer the best chance with lighter breezes, but the afternoons are consistently blown out. It's a bit frustrating, because there's a lot of energy in the water for a spot that's usually more consistent.

The real action, and the standout of the whole outlook, is going to be the morning of Wednesday, September 9th. The swell drops to 3 feet, but look at that period – 18 seconds! That’s a proper long-period groundswell, and it’s going to wrap into the point beautifully. The combined energy is still a solid 771, and with a light 6 mph cross breeze, the conditions will be clean. This is the one to circle on the calendar. It’s a point break, so that long period will really shine, offering long, lined-up waves.

After that, the rest of the second week is a slow fade. We see a bit of a pulse on the morning of Thursday the 10th with a 4-foot swell and 16-second period, but the pattern of clean mornings and blown-out afternoons holds. The surf is there, but you’ll be competing with a moderate cross-onshore wind most afternoons.

From the 12th onwards, the swell drops off significantly. We’re looking at waist-high or smaller waves, with the only real energy coming from very long-period pulses that are hard to catch. The morning of the 18th has a 2-foot swell with a 20-second period, which is just a whisper. It’s a long stretch of small, tricky conditions for a spot that can be inconsistent. Don't expect much.

So, the call is clear: the best wave you’ll see is the Wednesday morning, September 9th session. That long-period SW groundswell with light winds is the standout. The Friday morning, September 4th is a solid second choice for its size and energy, but the wind is just a little less perfect. Beyond that, pick your mornings carefully.

Rusty.

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