Surf Forecasts:
Steamer Lane-The Slot surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 823 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s 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 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 11AM. 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 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Steamer Lane-The Slot over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here, checkin’ in on the Santa Cruz scene, specifically Steamer Lane – The Slot. Let’s break it down.
Right off the bat, we’re not lookin’ at a whole lot of push. The first surf we see is on Saturday morning, with a combined energy of 991 (moderate), a 4ft swell from the SSW, but that wind is cross-on. It’s a messy start. The water temp is 61°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. Not a great start.
Sunday and Monday are small, with waves between 3ft and 4ft, same swell direction, but the wind is just not our friend. Tuesday morning, September 2nd, is a total tease – glassy as a mirror, but the swell is only 2ft with a 16-second period. The energy is weak (356), but it’s clean. Just not enough to get real excited about.
The real standout comes on Thursday, September 10th, in the afternoon. The wind goes glassy, and we’ve got a 3ft swell from the SSW with a 17-second period, rollin’ in with moderate energy (639). That’s a long period groundswell, and on a reef like The Slot, it’s gonna line up nice. This is the session to circle on the calendar. Clean, glassy, and the kind of setup that makes a surfer’s heart beat a little faster.
After that, the forecast goes flat. The second week is a total drag, with tiny waves, mostly under 3ft, and the wind is almost always onshore or cross-on. The energy is weak, and the consistency is gone. It’s a long, quiet stretch.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a bit of a dud, with a real gem of a glassy session on Thursday, September 10th. That’s your best bet. The rest of the forecast is a slow, quiet grind. Keep an eye on the long-range, but for now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 823 | 505 | 688 | 554 | 411 | 400 | 325 | 226 | 201 | 154 | 154 | 123 | 181 | 165 | 270 | 377 | 359 | 514 | 433 | 394 | 493 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 12:15PM1.43m | 11:54PM1.42m | 12:38PM1.51m | 00:42AM1.32m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:47PM0.43m | 5:53AM0.19m | 6:27PM0.33m | 6:20AM0.35m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 24 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 15 |
Feels °C | 18 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 823 | 505 | 688 | 170 | 159 | 168 | 153 | 87 | 201 | 154 | 154 | 101 | 123 | 165 | 268 | 377 | 359 | 514 | 356 | 323 | 493 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | S 11 | SSW 18 | WNW 9 | SSW 19 | WNW 9 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 15 | 6 | 6 | 554 | 411 | 400 | 325 | 226 | 44 | 73 | 65 | 66 | 181 | 58 | 270 | 50 | 199 | 113 | 433 | 394 | 122 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 14 | S 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | WNW 7 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | WNW 10 | SSW 16 | WNW 9 | SSW 19 | W 18 | SSW 18 | WNW 10 | W 15 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 36 | 56 | 30 | 50 | 123 | 52 | 103 | 53 | 241 | 6 | 364 | 127 | 17 | 179 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 7 | — | — | WNW 3 | NW 3 | — | WNW 9 | WNW 4 | — | WNW 10 | — |
| kJ | 153 | 213 | 215 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 6 | 4 | — | 99 | 5 | — | 208 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 316 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 321 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1050 | 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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