San Pancho (San Francisco) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me break it down in feet and miles per hour for you. Looking at the next 16 days at San Pancho, it’s gonna be a small-swell period overall, but there are some clean windows to get your fix.

Your first real chance is Saturday morning, September 12. We got a light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE at 6 mph, keeping the surface smooth. Swell is a tiny 3 ft from the SW with a period of 14 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 318, so not much power, but for a small, clean session on a reef break, it’ll be glassy enough. The water temp is 89°, way warmer than normal for this time of year – over 4° above average.

Sunday morning the 13th looks alright too – offshore wind from the E at 6 mph, 2 ft SW swell, 13-second period, energy down to 201. Small and weak but clean. Then the standout is Monday morning, September 14. Winds go glassy – an ESE breeze at just 3 mph, dead calm. Swell is 2 ft from the SW but the period jumps to 18 seconds – nice long-period groundswell. Combined energy is moderate at 271. That long period will give you good shape, but it’s still small. Best bet for a clean, cruisy morning.

Tuesday morning the 15th also offers clean cross-offshore conditions with 3 ft SW swell at 16 seconds (energy 341). Again, small but clean.

Now for the best of the run – circle Wednesday and Thursday mornings, September 16 and 17. Wednesday morning: clear skies, light ENE 3 mph cross-offshore wind, 3 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and combined energy jumps to 535 – that’s moderate to strong for this spot. Clean, fun, little waves.

Thursday morning the 17th: 3 ft SW swell, 14-second period, 519 energy, and light NE 6 mph cross-offshore wind. Two mornings back-to-back worth waking up for.

After that, we get another glassy morning on Friday the 18th – 2 ft at 20 seconds, energy 486, very long period. That long period might make a beach break straight, but on a reef like San Pancho, it should line up nicely. Saturday the 19th morning is glassy again with 3 ft at 18 seconds (531 energy). And Sunday the 20th morning has a clean cross-offshore breeze with 3 ft at 19 seconds (657 energy) – the strongest combined energy of the whole forecast. That morning is the true standout: decent waist-to-chest high waves, long period, and clean conditions. Go get it.

Crowds are sometimes an issue at San Pancho, so expect some company on those clean mornings. It’s an exposed reef, so keep an eye on the tide.

The afternoons are mostly blown out with onshore wind, so stick to mornings. Into the second week, mornings of the 21st through the 26th all still look clean and glassy with small swell, but the energy drops off a bit after the 20th. Still, plenty of fun for a longboard or a groveler.

Rusty.

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