Santa Cruz Harbour Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.96° N 122.00° W

Santa Cruz Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 25 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Santa Cruz Harbour sea temperature is
15.9° C
1.8° 

Santa Cruz Harbour surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Santa Cruz Harbour surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 19s period, SSW swell with 953 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 21s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Santa Cruz Harbour this week:

The surf forecast for Santa Cruz Harbour over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 21s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Santa Cruz Harbour in the next 16 days are 1.2m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 21s
Best Surf 8AM (Sat 25th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 21s
Most Powerful 5PM (Mon 27th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 19s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Santa Cruz Harbour over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what's on the cards for the Santa Cruz Harbour area. We've got a bit of a mixed bag to start, then the taps get turned off for a long stretch. Let's get into it.

First up, we’ve got a tiny window of decent swell. The standout is Saturday morning, July 25th. It’s not huge, with a clean 3-foot SSW groundswell, but that's packing a 21-second period – proper long-period energy that will wrap in nicely at this beach/jetty setup. The water's a touch warmer than normal at 60.6°, and with glassy conditions and the combined swell energy at a solid 926 (moderate energy), it's going to be pristine. The only catch is it's an advanced-only wave at a break that can get crowded, so pick your peak and be ready to compete. That’s your best bet by far.

The rest of the first week is pretty marginal. Saturday afternoon turns a bit cross-shore, and from Sunday July 26th through to Friday July 31st, we’re looking at onshore breezes and a lot of "questionable" surf. Swell heights hover around the 2 to 4-foot mark, but the periods drop and the conditions just aren't there. There’s one faint glimmer on Saturday morning, August 1st – a 4-foot S swell with glassy winds. The period is only 14 seconds and the combined energy sits at 548 (moderate energy), but it might be worth a look if you're desperate for a paddle.

Then we hit a wall. From Sunday, August 2nd, through to late in the second week, it goes quiet. We're talking days on end with poor surf conditions. Swell drops to around 1.3 feet with weak combined energy values barely cracking 100. Onshore and cross-onshore winds are the norm. Honestly, it's a long, flat run.

So, to bring it home: Saturday morning July 25th is the only genuine standout. Glassy, long-period groundswell, clean conditions. Everything else in this 16-day outlook is a write-off until maybe a very late pulse around Sunday, August 9th, when we see a 2.3-foot SSW swell building, but that's a long way off and the conditions are still onshore. The first real action is your one clear window.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
21
0.8
SSW
21
1
SW
20
0.9
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
18
1.1
SW
18
1.2
SSW
19
1
SSW
17
1.2
SSW
18
1.1
SW
17
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
0.6
S
16
0.6
S
15
0.7
SSE
15
0.6
S
17
1
S
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
799
573
746
657
630
547
735
953
580
817
687
566
452
487
310
353
179
172
225
197
405
Wind (km/h)
5
SW
10
WNW
5
N
5
SSW
15
WNW
0
NNW
5
SW
10
WNW
0
N
5
SW
5
W
0
NE
5
SSW
10
SW
0
NW
10
SW
5
SW
0
WSW
10
SW
5
SSW
0
N
Wind State
glassy
cross
glassy
on
cross
glassy
on
cross
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
on
glassy
High Tide
10:57AM1.24m
8:00PM1.66m
11:30AM1.27m
8:44PM1.68m
11:58AM1.27m
9:25PM1.69m
12:20PM1.26m
10:03PM1.69m
12:40PM1.26m
10:40PM1.66m
12:58PM1.27m
11:17PM1.59m
1:17PM1.30m
11:56PM1.50m
Low Tide
2:26PM1.05m
3:39AM-0.06m
3:12PM1.03m
4:14AM-0.11m
3:50PM1.00m
4:46AM-0.15m
4:25PM0.95m
5:15AM-0.17m
4:57PM0.89m
5:41AM-0.16m
5:30PM0.83m
6:07AM-0.12m
6:06PM0.76m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:21
8:20
8:19
8:17
8:16
8:15
8:15
 mm
Temp °C
21
27
20
21
28
21
21
27
21
21
25
20
20
23
18
20
23
18
21
24
18
Feels °C
21
26
20
21
26
20
20
25
19
20
25
21
20
23
19
19
22
18
20
23
18
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Santa Cruz Harbour Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Santa Cruz Harbour provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Santa Cruz Harbour can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Santa Cruz Harbour surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Santa Cruz Harbour) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Santa Cruz Harbour may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Santa Cruz Harbour is 3 km (2 miles) from the city of Live Oak. If you plan a vacation in Santa Cruz, look for hotels and other accommodation in Live Oak. Live Oak has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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