
Surf Forecasts:
Steamer Lane-The Slot surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 9s period, NW swell with 885 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period with WNW 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s is also forecast. 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 2.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 13s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Steamer Lane-The Slot over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for the next couple of weeks.
We’re starting off with a real gem right out of the gate. Steamer Lane-The Slot (Steamer Lane-The Slot) is looking like the pick of the forecast. The water temp is running about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. The swell is a clean 2 ft out of the SSW, with a very long period of 14 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is moderate (467), and the wind is glassy on Friday morning. That’s a massive positive. The Slot is a reef, so that long period will wrap in beautifully, offering well-shaped, powerful lines. Just be aware this spot is a known locals’ haunt and can get busy, so you’ll be sharing the peak. It’s a consistent wave, so there’s plenty to go around.
Friday afternoon the wind swings to a light cross-on, and the waves bump up to 3 ft. It’s still surfable, but the morning is the clear winner.
As we roll into Saturday, August 1st, the swell jumps to 6 ft but the period drops to 8 seconds – much more of a mushy, short-period windswell. The wind is light cross-on in the morning, which isn’t ideal. The energy is moderate to strong (759), but it won’t have the same quality. The afternoon looks better, with glassy conditions and 5 ft waves from the WNW, but still that short period.
Sunday, August 2nd, holds 6 ft from the WNW with a period of 9 to 10 seconds, but the wind is directly onshore. That’s going to chop it up. The energy is moderate (672-728), but it’s a battle against the wind.
By Monday, August 3rd, the size is around 6 ft with a 10-second period, but again, the wind is cross-on or onshore. It’s a bit of a messy outlook for the start of the week.
After that, things really start to wind down. From Tuesday, August 4th, through to the middle of the second week, we’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak surf. The swell height drops to mostly 2 ft to 3 ft, and the combined energy readings hover between 100 and 400, which is weak. The wind stays mostly onshore or light cross-on. There’s a long period swell around 19 seconds on August 7th, but it’s only 1 ft – just a long-period ripple. The water will be calm, but there’s nothing to ride.
There’s a slight uptick in the energy around August 12th, with the swell hitting 2 ft to 3 ft and periods around 16 to 18 seconds. The energy climbs back into the moderate range (467 to 669), but the wind is still onshore. It’s better than the dead spell, but it’s a marginal call.
The real standout is that Friday morning, July 31st. That’s the one to bend your schedule for. The window is tight, but it’s a beautiful one.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
280 | 276 | 328 | 371 | 331 | 885 | 506 | 495 | 590 | 516 | 378 | 253 | 184 | 147 | 125 | 113 | 113 | 130 | 138 | 124 | 106 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:17PM1.30m | 11:56PM1.50m | 1:39PM1.36m | 00:38AM1.39m | 2:04PM1.43m | 1:28AM1.25m | 2:33PM1.52m | 2:28AM1.11m | 3:08PM1.60m | 3:51AM0.99m | 3:50PM1.68m | 5:58AM0.94m | 4:42PM1.75m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:06PM0.76m | 6:32AM-0.04m | 6:49PM0.67m | 6:58AM0.09m | 7:38PM0.59m | 7:26AM0.26m | 8:37PM0.49m | 7:57AM0.45m | 9:45PM0.38m | 8:31AM0.66m | 11:01PM0.25m | 9:18AM0.85m | 00:16AM0.10m | ||||||||
6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 25 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 17 |
Feels °C | 19 | 24 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
280 | 276 | 183 | 232 | 87 | 508 | 506 | 495 | 590 | 516 | 378 | 253 | 184 | 147 | 125 | 113 | 113 | 130 | 138 | 124 | 106 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSE 12 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 14 | S 12 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
86 | 48 | 225 | 89 | 48 | 76 | 75 | 46 | 44 | 67 | 42 | 37 | 37 | 36 | 54 | 72 | 52 | 97 | 87 | 84 | 85 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | — | W 21 | SSW 14 | S 10 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SW 18 |
104 | — | 9 | 82 | 18 | 53 | 55 | 55 | 30 | 67 | 65 | 41 | 61 | 35 | 33 | 24 | 31 | 12 | 37 | 37 | 80 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
149 | 213 | 328 | 371 | 331 | 885 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 37 | 0 | 26 | 37 | 2 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 104 | 144 |
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.











