Surf Forecasts:
Steamer Lane-The Slot surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, NW swell with 844 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 18s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Steamer Lane-The Slot this week:
The surf forecast for Steamer Lane-The Slot over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 1.3m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Steamer Lane-The Slot in the next 16 days are 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Steamer Lane-The Slot over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s switch to feet and degrees. Rusty here, same spot, same story.
The next couple of weeks are a tale of two halves for the Santa Cruz area. For the first few days, from Tuesday the 7th through to around Sunday the 12th, it’s pretty slow. The swell is small, mostly around 2ft to 3ft, with a mix of short-period junk and a few pulses of longer period groundswell on the 7th and 8th. The wind is a light cross-onshore breeze, keeping things choppy and unexciting. The combined wave energy is in the moderate range (857 to 1102), but the quality is poor. Not worth rushing out.
The real standout is locked in for Thursday the 16th of July. The afternoon session looks absolutely prime. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell out of the WNW with a 9-second period, and the wind is predicted to go glassy. This is the kind of clean, lined-up gold we wait for. The wave energy is strong at 1096, and for a reef like Steamer Lane-The Slot, which loves a west swell, this is a serious call. This wave is for advanced surfers only, it’s very consistent, and expect to see plenty of company—it’s often crowded for a reason. The water is sitting at 62°, which is a whopping 5° warmer than the long-term average for this time of year. That is very unusual, and a rare treat.
Before that peak, Tuesday the 14th of July afternoon offers a glassy 3ft WNW swell, and Wednesday the 15th afternoon brings a glassy 5ft swell. Both have lower energy (355 and 486) but clean, fun conditions for a casual paddle.
The final weekend, the 18th and 19th of July, sees a long period groundswell from the SW at 2ft with a period of 16 to 18 seconds. The energy is moderate (496 to 709). That long-period pulse will wrap into The Slot, but the wind is onshore all the way. It’ll be bumpy, but those long, slow sets will have some juice for the dedicated crew.
Circle Thursday the 16th. That’s your day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 9 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | SSW 14 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 332 | 454 | 596 | 681 | 597 | 619 | 673 | 402 | 844 | 727 | 381 | 381 | 255 | 249 | 324 | 233 | 330 | 229 | 181 | 186 | 129 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:43PM1.56m | 5:25AM0.90m | 5:25PM1.66m | 7:37AM0.92m | 6:13PM1.77m | 9:19AM1.04m | 7:05PM1.87m | 10:22AM1.17m | 8:01PM1.95m | 11:09AM1.26m | 8:57PM2.01m | 11:51AM1.33m | 9:52PM2.02m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:23AM0.40m | 11:39PM0.38m | 10:11AM0.60m | 00:42AM0.16m | 11:15AM0.78m | 1:40AM-0.05m | 12:31PM0.91m | 2:34AM-0.25m | 1:43PM0.98m | 3:26AM-0.41m | 2:47PM0.98m | 4:16AM-0.50m | 3:46PM0.93m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 18 |
Feels °C | 17 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | SSW 16 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | SSW 13 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 273 | 454 | 596 | 681 | 597 | 339 | 381 | 402 | 520 | 435 | 256 | 381 | 255 | 249 | 324 | 212 | 212 | 217 | 181 | 184 | 122 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 19 | S 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 20 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | W 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 332 | 191 | 142 | 124 | 66 | 499 | 499 | — | 387 | 348 | — | 242 | 242 | 7 | 252 | 233 | 236 | 229 | 141 | 15 | 129 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | WNW 11 | SSW 19 | — | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | S 21 | W 18 | W 18 | S 10 | S 18 | S 18 | W 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 20 | SW 19 |
| kJ | 5 | 1 | 47 | 123 | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 55 | 25 | 19 | 51 | 37 | 96 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | WNW 9 | — |
| kJ | 247 | 433 | 193 | 174 | 280 | 619 | 673 | 372 | 844 | 727 | 381 | — | — | 249 | — | — | 330 | — | — | 186 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Cruz | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Steamer Lane-The Slot Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Steamer Lane-The Slot provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Steamer Lane-The Slot can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Steamer Lane-The Slot 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 (Steamer Lane-The Slot) 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 Steamer Lane-The Slot 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.
Steamer Lane-The Slot is 3 km (2 miles) from Santa Cruz. If you plan a vacation in Santa Cruz, look for hotels and other accommodation in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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