Santa Cruz Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper surf around Santa Cruz. There’s about a week-long gap from Tuesday, July 21st, right through to the start of the following week where the ocean is just not cooperating. The waves are small, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy is weak. The combined swell energy barely cracks triple digits, sitting mostly in the 50s to 80s range, which is not enough to get excited about.

Things start to get a little more interesting around Saturday, July 25th. We see a bump in swell height to 6 ft coming from the NW, but don’t get your hopes up too high. The wind is a cross-onshore breeze from the NNW at 12 mph, so the surface will be choppy and messy. The combined energy climbs to 322, which is a moderate push, but it’s not going to be clean. The swell period is a paltry 7 seconds, so it’s windswell, not the good stuff. This is strictly for the die-hards who don’t mind a side-shore chop.

The only real standout in this whole forecast is a glimmer of hope late in the period. On Tuesday, August 4th, we get a window of good conditions. Santa Cruz should see a 5 ft swell from the NNW, but the key here is the wind. It’s glassy, dead calm, with just a slight air moving. That means the surface will be clean as a whistle. The combined energy is 239, which is moderate, and the period is 7 seconds, so it’s not a groundswell, but it’ll be rideable. The water temp is about 69°F, which is normal for this time of year, so no wetsuit worries. This is a decent morning session for an intermediate surfer, but keep an eye on the crowds, because Santa Cruz is often busy, and when it’s glassy, everyone shows up.

Then, on Wednesday, August 5th, we get another chance. A 4 ft NNW swell with glassy conditions again, this time from a light SSE wind. The combined energy is 201, so similar energy, and the swell period is still short at 7 seconds. It’s a repeat of the day before, but worth a paddle if you missed the Tuesday window. The winds will turn onshore by the afternoon, so make it a dawn patrol.

Overall, it’s a tough stretch with a lot of whitewash and bad wind. The beginning of August looks like it might be the turning point, but it’s a long way out, so treat it as a promising but not guaranteed bet. The rest of the time, you’re better off checking the forecast again or finding a different hobby.

Rusty.

Read more