San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next 16 days for San Mateo.

Honestly, it’s a pretty tough run. The surf is on the small side almost the entire forecast, and finding clean windows is like chasing shadows. The water is sitting at a very unusual 80° – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a nice surprise for the skin.

The only true standout comes on the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd. It’s pretty small, only around 2ft of swell from the SW, but the real story is that the wind is glassy. That period is a solid 17 seconds, so there’s some long-period groundswell in the water. That combo of glass and groundswell will make San Mateo look like a different break that morning – super clean and lined up. The combined swell energy is moderate (389), so there’s a little push behind it. That morning is your best bet, hands down.

After that, conditions get messy. Most afternoons get chopped up by cross-onshore winds. The morning of Monday, September 7th also has glassy wind with 4ft of SW swell and a strong 657 combined energy, but the period is shorter (13 seconds) and the cross-shore wind is light, so it’s not quite as crisp as the 2nd. Still, it’s a decent option if you missed the first window.

The morning of Wednesday, September 16th also flirts with glass again, but the swell is back down to 3ft with only 14 seconds of period and a weak energy (256). It’s rideable but nothing to write home about.

There are long gaps here. After the 7th, the surf quality drops off a cliff with mostly poor or marginal conditions and choppy winds through the second week. If you’re a beginner, even the bigger days (like the 5ft on the 4th and 5th) are a bit much, plus the wind is ruining it. This stretch is more for the dedicated or the kite crew – with those strong cross-onshore winds and a beach/reef setup, the afternoons are going to be a kite surfer’s playground on the bigger energy days (like the 4th with 1357 combined energy), not a paddle surfer’s.

So, to wrap it up: set your alarm for the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd. That’s the rare gem. The rest is either small, windy, or both.

Rusty.

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