Surf Forecasts:
Steamer Lane-The Slot surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 619 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 13s 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 (Sep 01) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 14s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Steamer Lane-The Slot over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, giving you the straight talk on our local waves for the next couple weeks. Don’t expect much in the short term.
Our main spot is Steamer Lane-The Slot. The early part of the week is a right-off. Monday the 31st starts small with a 0.9m SSW swell, 14-second period, and the energy is moderate (480). The water’s 15°, normal for the season. Light onshore wind in the morning makes it just marginal. By the afternoon, it's messy with a 15 km/h cross-onshore breeze. Not good.
Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd are flat and weak with onshore or cross-onshore winds. Thursday the 3rd shows a 0.7m swell but with a long 19-second period, giving it strong energy (505), though a 10 km/h onshore wind only makes it marginal. Friday the 4th has a bit more size, 1.0m to 1.1m, but the WNW wind keeps it choppy.
Saturday the 5th stays marginal. Finally, on Sunday the 6th, we get a glassy morning—dead calm, 5 km/h from the SW—with a 0.9m SSW swell, 15 seconds, and moderate energy (369). It's the cleanest window in a pretty flat run.
There’s a big gap in quality for several days after Monday the 7th. Monday and Tuesday the 8th are still messy. Wednesday the 9th has a glassy morning on a tiny 0.4m swell—fine for a longboard. But the real standout, the one to circle, is Thursday the 10th of September. The morning brings a clean 1.8m WNW groundswell, 12-second period, and the energy is pumping (1200). Wind is dead glass from the west at 5 km/h. This is the one. It’s over 1.5m, so it’s for the experienced crew, but the conditions will be pure. The direction isn’t perfectly west but with that energy and glass, the Lane will be firing.
Friday the 11th holds some size at 1.5m but onshore winds ruin it. After that, it’s a slow fade into smaller, weaker swell and onshore winds for the rest of the window. The Thursday the 10th session is the only true standout, and being a week away, it’s promising but not locked in yet.
Bottom line: wait it out and aim for Thursday morning at the Slot. That’s the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 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 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 325 | 226 | 156 | 154 | 154 | 123 | 137 | 103 | 246 | 325 | 411 | 497 | 582 | 619 | 597 | 469 | 457 | 434 | 305 | 301 | 239 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:06PM1.58m | 1:38AM1.21m | 1:39PM1.66m | 2:48AM1.11m | 2:19PM1.70m | 4:27AM1.04m | 3:09PM1.73m | 6:57AM1.08m | 4:13PM1.73m | 8:23AM1.19m | 5:26PM1.74m | 9:03AM1.28m | 6:42PM1.76m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:14PM0.25m | 6:48AM0.54m | 8:09PM0.20m | 7:19AM0.73m | 9:15PM0.16m | 7:56AM0.91m | 10:34PM0.12m | 9:05AM1.05m | 11:55PM0.04m | 11:23AM1.11m | 1:07AM-0.05m | 12:56PM1.02m | 2:06AM-0.14m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 19 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 122 | 226 | 156 | 154 | 154 | 96 | 93 | 89 | 141 | 325 | 106 | 175 | 186 | 619 | 597 | 469 | 457 | 434 | 305 | 301 | 99 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSE 14 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | W 5 | WNW 9 | S 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | S 10 | WNW 6 | WNW 10 | SSW 10 | WNW 6 | SSE 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 325 | 39 | 38 | 26 | 21 | 123 | 137 | 9 | 68 | 123 | 411 | 497 | 582 | 53 | 35 | 151 | 41 | 27 | 69 | 106 | 239 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | W 10 | S 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | NW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | WNW 8 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | W 15 | NW 10 | SSW 11 | SSE 14 | NW 9 | NW 9 | SW 10 | S 15 |
| kJ | 33 | 8 | 81 | 46 | 41 | 40 | 24 | 103 | 246 | 57 | 70 | 103 | 83 | 17 | 102 | 65 | 37 | 42 | 41 | 28 | 109 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — | — | WNW 10 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 7 |
| kJ | — | 110 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 245 | — | — | 157 | — | 23 | 67 | 189 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 316 | 5 | 0 | 219 | 270 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 104 | 207 | 0 | 0 | 326 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 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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