Surf Forecasts:
Steamer Lane-The Slot surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, NW swell with 787 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 9 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s 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 Thursday (Jul 09) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy 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 Thursday (Jul 16) 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+) | 8AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Steamer Lane-The Slot over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s coming up at Steamer Lane-The Slot.
Right off the bat, I gotta say, this stretch is a grind for the most part. We’re looking at a solid run of marginal conditions with tricky cross-onshore winds and questionable tide windows. The first surfable recommendation isn’t until Saturday the 11th, that afternoon window. That’s a two-day wait from today with nothing worth paddling out for.
We get a bit of relief Saturday afternoon (July 11th). The wind goes glassy, with swell coming from the WNW at 5ft and a period of 8 seconds. Not the biggest, not the longest, but that glassy surface makes it rideable and clean. The combined energy is moderate (542). Not a standout, but a nice little window to get wet.
Sunday the 12th goes back to cross-on conditions with a bit more size – 6ft from the NW – but the energy is moderate to strong (1138). The problem is the wind. It just makes things lumpy.
Now, the real standout I’m eyeing is Sunday morning, July 19th. That’s over a week away, so keep that in mind – long-range promise. We’ve got a southerly groundswell hitting 4ft with a very long 16-second period. The wind goes glassy, and the wave comment says “very good surf conditions.” The combined energy is solid (891). This is a true standout for the whole outlook. A long-period south swell on a reef like this, with glass, is about as good as it gets here.
One more to mention: Thursday afternoon, July 23rd. Another glassy window, with a SSW swell at 3ft and a 14-second period. Energy is moderate (516). Clean, small, and lined up – perfect for a longboard or a fun fish.
Otherwise, it’s a lot of cross-on wind and marginal surf. The size jumps up on Wednesday the 15th to 7ft from the WNW, but with a 9 mph cross-on breeze making it choppy – that’s a pass from me for a paddle. If you’re into kite surfing, that setup might be more your speed.
Water temp is not flagged as unusual, so it’s about average for this time of year at the Lane.
Stay patient, keep an eye on that 19th, and I’ll see you in the water.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wed 15 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 15 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 499 | 502 | 402 | 657 | 381 | 377 | 418 | 456 | 280 | 567 | 534 | 360 | 580 | 302 | 351 | 486 | 232 | 356 | 403 | 390 | 525 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 12:31PM1.37m | 10:45PM1.98m | 1:10PM1.40m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:03AM-0.54m | 4:42PM0.86m | 5:48AM-0.51m | 5:38PM0.79m | |||||||
 | | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
 | 8:30 | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 20 | 21 | 25 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | SSW 16 | WNW 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | SSW 14 | WNW 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 13 |
| kJ | 192 | 304 | 402 | 381 | 348 | 256 | 237 | 237 | 249 | 347 | 316 | 236 | 316 | 141 | 184 | 287 | 102 | 78 | 152 | 78 | 31 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | — | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 20 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | W 14 | SSW 13 | W 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 499 | 499 | — | 387 | 314 | 2 | 242 | 242 | 7 | 249 | 233 | 25 | 229 | 51 | 15 | 95 | 36 | 48 | 58 | 37 | 30 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | S 21 | — | W 18 | S 10 | S 18 | W 18 | W 16 | W 16 | SSW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 6 | 2 | 55 | 6 | 19 | 20 | 37 | 96 | 58 | 37 | 33 | 32 | 44 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 369 | 502 | 355 | 657 | 381 | 377 | 418 | 456 | 280 | 567 | 534 | 360 | 580 | 302 | 351 | 486 | 232 | 356 | 403 | 390 | 525 |
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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