San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for San Mateo over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the first week is a bit of a grind. We’ve got some swell in the water, but the wind is just not playing ball. A lot of cross-shore and cross-onshore breezes are going to keep things choppy and messy. We’re looking at a lot of “poor surf conditions” days, so don’t expect any magic right off the bat. The water is a whopping 80°F and that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a nice bonus if you’re just getting wet.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Thursday, July 23rd in the morning. San Mateo is a point break, so it handles a longer period swell well. We’ve got 3ft of SW swell with a 9-second period, but the real kicker is the wind: it’s glassy. That’s a major positive. The combined energy is moderate at 281. It’s an inconsistent break, so you’ll be waiting for sets, but when they come, it’ll be clean. Crowds are a possibility here, so get in early.

The next standout is a bit further out, but it looks promising. On Wednesday, July 29th in the morning, we’ve got another glassy session. The swell is 3ft from the SW with a 15-second period, which is a nice long-period groundswell. That longer period gives the waves more shape and energy, and for a point break like San Mateo, that’s a great combination. The combined energy is strong at 623. This is the best on offer across the whole run, but it’s still a week and a half away, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

In between those two glassy windows, the surf is mostly marginal with questionable conditions. The wind is often onshore or cross-shore, making it choppy. For the second week, from the 24th onward, the swell sizes pick up a bit, with some 3ft to 4ft days, but the wind is still a problem. The morning of Saturday, July 26th has clean cross-offshore winds, with 3ft of SW swell and a 17-second period, and the combined energy is very strong at 983. That’s a heavy one, but the afternoon turns into a lumpy mess. It’s a spot for those who are keen on the long period, but the wind window is tight.

So, in short: the first week is mostly a write-off for clean waves. The two true standouts are Thursday, July 23rd morning and Wednesday, July 29th morning – both glassy and offering clean, rideable waves. The rest of the time, it’s a fight against the wind.

Rusty.

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