San Mateo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what San Mateo has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water temp is sitting at 80°, which is a massive 7° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, so you’ll be in for a warm one if you’re paddling out at this spot.

To be straight with you, the next week and a half is a bit of a letdown. From Wednesday the 15th right through to Saturday the 26th of July, the surf is mostly poor. Winds are almost constantly cross or cross-onshore, and the conditions just aren't cooperating. There’s a long stretch here with no real quality windows, just a couple of mornings that are barely marginal, like Saturday the 18th and Monday the 20th, but nothing you'd want to get out of bed early for. The swell is hanging around 1.0 ft to 3 ft, mostly from the SW, but the wind messes it up every time.

Now, let's talk about the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve got a proper standout showing up on Sunday, July 26th. The morning starts glassy—absolutely dead calm—with a 3 ft SW groundswell rolling in at a long 18 seconds. The energy is moderate at 497. It’s a proper groundswell, so that long period will make for some nice shaped waves, but at a point break like San Mateo, that’s exactly what you want. The only downside is this spot is inconsistent, so you can’t bank on it every time, and crowds are possible. But if it fires, it’ll be worth a look.

Then, just when you think it’s over, Monday, July 27th morning looks even better. Again, glassy conditions—3 mph wind from the SSW, basically nothing. The swell pulses up to 3 ft from the SW with a very long 16-second period, and the energy jumps to a strong 825. This is the best on offer for the whole run. The combination of clean, offshore wind and that long-period groundswell at a point break could be something special. Keep in mind, though, this is over a week away, so the forecast is promising but not set in stone.

After Monday morning, the winds pick back up and we slide back into marginal or poor conditions for the rest of the outlook period, with the swell building to 5 ft by Thursday the 30th, but it’s choppy and cross-onshore.

So, to sum it up: wait it out for that glassy Sunday morning on the 26th, and keep your eyes peeled for Monday the 27th—that’s the real standout. Everything else is a write-off.

- Rusty

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