San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s cooking.

First off, the water’s running at a toasty 81°, which is way warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a solid 8° warmer than normal, so you can leave the thicker wetsuit at home.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start this week. The first few days, Monday the 20th through Wednesday the 22nd, are pretty flat and messy. You’ve got poor surf conditions with a weak cross-shore breeze and tiny swell. Not much to get excited about. The combined energy is low, under 300, so it’s more of a longboard or rest day scenario.

Come Thursday the 23rd, still small, but the morning shows a slight improvement with a 0.3m swell from the SW, but the period is a whopping 26 seconds – that’s a very long groundswell. It’s still weak energy (251), but that long period means it could offer some clean lines at the right tide if you’re patient. Friday the 24th morning is marginal, with energy picking up to 740, but still small at 0.7m and a cross-on wind.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday the 25th morning is a standout. The swell is a clean 1.0m from the SW, period 19 seconds, and the wind is light and cross-shore. The energy is solid at 775, and the conditions are described as marginal but with a score that’s a step up. It’s not the biggest, but it’s clean and the wind is light. This is a good one for a fun session.

But the real highlight, the best on offer, is Sunday the 26th morning. You’ve got glassy conditions, a light wind from the SSW, and a 1.1m SW swell with a 17-second period. The energy is strong at 781. The conditions are called “very good.” This is the one to circle. It’s a point break (San Mateo) and it’s inconsistent, but when it’s on, it’s on. Crowds are possible here, so get there early.

Moving into the next week, Monday the 27th morning is clean with a cross-off wind and a 1.3m SW swell, 18-second period, and energy now at 1165. That’s moderate to strong energy. It’s a bit more size, but the wind is clean. Tuesday the 28th morning is the biggest in the run – 1.7m from the SW, period 16 seconds, glassy wind, and energy at 1508. This is expert territory, over 1.5m, and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. The long period will make it wall up nicely at the point.

Wednesday the 29th morning sees a drop back to 1.5m with a light cross-off wind and clean conditions. Energy is still strong at 936. Thursday the 30th morning is clean again, 1.2m, with a light cross-off. Good conditions.

After that, the swell fades a bit into the first week of August. The mornings on Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st are smaller and clean, but the energy drops. There’s a bit of a gap from the 1st to the 3rd, with only marginal or poor conditions. Monday the 3rd of August morning brings a pulse back, with 1.6m from the SW and strong energy at 1142, but it’s a bit bumpy with cross-shore wind.

The standout for the whole run? Sunday the 26th of July morning at San Mateo. Glassy, clean, 1.1m, long period, and strong energy. That’s the pick.

Rusty.

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