San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming down the line for San Mateo. This is a point break, exposed to the NW, and it's an advanced wave that's inconsistent. It takes a specific swell for it to really fire, so we're not just looking at any old bump.

The water this time of year is much warmer than normal, sitting at 80°, which is a good 9° above average. That's very unusual.

We've got a long stretch of frustrating conditions ahead. The first surfable pulse arrives on Thursday morning, September 3rd. It's a long-period groundswell (18 seconds) from the SW hitting 4ft, but the cross-shore wind is just enough to put a slight chop on it. The combined energy is moderate at 773. It's rideable, but it's not the cleanest.

Friday morning, September 4th, is a bit better. The swell bumps up to 5ft from the SW, period dropping to 16 seconds, and the energy jumps to a strong 1171. The wind is light cross-shore, so it's a notable step up. That's the best early option, but the afternoons are all getting blown out.

The pattern stays the same through the first week: mornings with cross-shore wind and marginal surf, afternoons turning to onshore chop. The swell slowly drops off through the weekend and into the next week. There's a real lull from around September 12th through the 18th, with swell energy dropping to just 200-300 range. The waves are small and weak, barely breaking at 1ft to 2ft. It's a tough stretch.

Now, the standout. The best bet of the whole 16-day window is the morning of Wednesday, September 16th. It's not the biggest swell, but it's the only time we see glassy conditions. The wind is dead calm, a light southerly breeze, making the ocean surface like a mirror. The swell is 3ft from the SW at 14 seconds, with a combined energy of 500. It's a moderate, clean groundswell. For a point break that's inconsistent, this is the window. It'll be clean, with those long lines. The water is still warm, but remember, it's an advanced spot.

For a break like this, with a long period groundswell, it's a point break, so it will handle that energy well. Keep in mind, it's inconsistent, so you need to be patient. The afternoons are still a mess, so get out there early.

Rusty, signing off.

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