San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s size up San Mateo for the coming weeks. It’s gonna be a tale of two halves, mostly on the small side, so keep the longboard handy.

First thing, the water is bathwater warm, clocking in at 80° – that’s a full 7° warmer than usual for this time of year. You won’t need more than boardshorts.

The short-term forecast is pretty average. We’ve got a steady south-west groundswell rolling in with a really long period of 15 to 16 seconds, so the lines will be clean and there’s proper energy behind them. Swell heights are in that 3ft range. The wave energy is moderate, sitting around the 500-650 mark. The problem is the wind. It’s mostly blowing across the wave face, which keeps things from going glassy but isn't an absolute dealbreaker. Wednesday the 8th and Friday the 10th have the most size, with that south-west swell hitting a touch over 4ft, but the wind makes it a bit lumpy. The mornings are your best shot, especially Friday when the breeze drops to a light wind. Thursday the 9th and Saturday the 11th are much the same – cross-shore breeze and waves in the waist-high range. Keep in mind this break is "inconsistent," so don't expect a wave every minute. It's surfable, but you'll have to work for it.

Here’s the real standout. Circle Saturday morning, July 18th. The wind is forecast to go completely glassy, dead calm. For an exposed point break that normally cops a breeze, this is a huge deal. The swell won't be big, about 3ft from the south-west, but the period drops to 12 seconds, meaning the sets will come a bit more often and the waves will be friendlier. The energy reading of 307 (low-end moderate) tells you it’s not going to be a beast, but it will be perfect. That combination of offshore conditions at an inconsistent spot is gold. It can get a crowd "sometimes," so arrive early to claim your spot. The window is tight, as the wind swings around in the afternoon and chops it up.

After the 18th, the engine shuts off. The swell energy drops right into the weak zone and the heights shrink to around 2ft or less, even if the period goes long. The final week of the outlook looks flat to small, with nothing to get excited about.

So, final word: The next ten days are for the patient surfer after some long-period 3ft waves with a side breeze. The one real winner, the best on offer, is Saturday morning, July 18th. Get it while the wind is off and the waves are clean.

Rusty.

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