Surf Forecasts:
The Patch surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 502 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Patch this week:
The surf forecast for The Patch over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Patch in the next 16 days are 1.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Patch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a slow start at The Patch, but there’s some real promise building through the back half of the forecast if you’re patient.
Right now, the surf is pretty marginal. Saturday the 15th has a clean 0.8ft to 1.0ft SW groundswell (energy around 447–493) but it’s small and a little wind-affected. Not worth paddling out for unless you’re just getting started – this spot’s a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent beach break, exposed to SW swell. Water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.
Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th stay small, with the same 0.8ft SW groundswell and mostly cross or cross-off winds. The afternoon on Sunday cleans up a little (moderate energy 372), but it’s still only a 2/5 kind of day – nothing to get excited about.
Now, Tuesday the 18th morning is where things start to nudge. We get a 1ft WNW swell (energy 363), but check the period – only 7 seconds. That’s short-period windswell, so it’ll be lumpy and lack push. Not your classic clean groundswell day.
Wednesday the 19th morning is the first real standout. The swell jumps to 2ft from the NW with an 8-second period (energy 923). That’s moderate wave energy, and with a light WNW cross-off breeze, it’ll be clean. This is getting into the “too big for beginners” territory – over 2ft – so if you’re newer, sit this one out. For everyone else, it’s a solid session.
There’s a bit of a lull after that until Friday the 21st morning. Another 2ft NW groundswell (energy 754), 8-second period, light cross-off wind – clean again. Another good one for intermediate and up.
Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd keep things ticking with 1ft to 2ft WNW swell, but the energy drops into the 400s, and winds stay cross-off. Solid but not spectacular.
Then we hit a quieter stretch from Monday the 24th through to Wednesday the 27th. Swell sizes drop below 1.0ft, periods get weirdly long (17–20 seconds) from the S and SSW – that’s groundswell but with very little height. Combined energy stays moderate (294–785), but with those long periods, the sets will be few and far between. Not worth rushing out for.
Thursday the 28th morning looks promising again – 1.0ft SSW groundswell, 13-second period, energy 694, clean cross-off wind. A sneaky good morning if the tide plays ball.
But the absolute highlight? That’s Saturday the 29th morning. Glassy. As in, glassy. Wind is SSW at just 3 mph, flat calm. You’re looking at 1.0ft SW groundswell with an 18-second period – that’s very long-period groundswell, proper energy (925). It’s small but with that length, it’ll wrap nicely and hold shape. Just keep in mind that long-period swell like this can get a bit straight at beach breaks – The Patch is exposed so it should still work fine, but the better shaped lines might be further down the beach.
Sunday the 30th afternoon sees the biggest energy of the whole run – 2ft NW swell, 9-second period, energy 1259. That’s moderate-strong energy, but the wind is a moderate cross-off. Could be a solid session for experienced crew, but for beginners, 2ft is going to be too much.
Overall, if you’re picking one day, make it Saturday the 29th morning for the glassy conditions and long-period swell. Wednesday the 19th morning is your best bet for size. The rest is mostly small or marginal – a bit of a waiting game, but nothing stays flat forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | SW 16 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
410 | 271 | 502 | 362 | 287 | 309 | 255 | 255 | 175 | 181 | 261 | 214 | 392 | 292 | 302 | 183 | 286 | 353 | 378 | 306 | 392 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:27PM1.24m | 2:18AM1.14m | 3:01PM1.24m | 3:16AM1.01m | 3:36PM1.24m | 4:24AM0.89m | 4:13PM1.22m | 5:53AM0.82m | 4:57PM1.19m | 7:43AM0.81m | 5:49PM1.18m | 9:11AM0.86m | 6:48PM1.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:26AM0.03m | 8:56PM0.26m | 9:03AM0.16m | 9:51PM0.23m | 9:42AM0.28m | 10:49PM0.21m | 10:24AM0.41m | 11:52PM0.19m | 11:15AM0.52m | 1:00AM0.17m | 12:22PM0.60m | 2:08AM0.14m | 1:41PM0.64m | 3:09AM0.10m | |||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 8:04 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 17 | 16 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WNW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | SW 13 |
410 | 271 | 502 | 362 | 287 | 309 | 255 | 255 | 169 | 176 | 261 | 214 | 232 | 226 | 183 | 80 | 136 | 138 | 250 | 68 | 44 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | SW 13 | W 10 | WNW 6 | S 10 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | SSW 18 | W 13 | W 16 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | W 12 | W 11 | SSW 14 | W 12 | SW 20 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
77 | 88 | 18 | 22 | 8 | 20 | 34 | 25 | 33 | 3 | 19 | 123 | 217 | 74 | 93 | 129 | 45 | 15 | 75 | 49 | 47 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | WNW 8 | W 10 | W 12 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | S 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | S 8 | SW 17 | W 13 | SW 21 | — | W 12 | SW 19 | W 15 | SW 18 | S 10 | W 13 |
6 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 3 | 29 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 70 | 82 | 18 | — | 47 | 14 | 4 | 51 | 2 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 10 | WNW 5 | — | WNW 10 | — | — | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | — | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
— | 82 | 24 | — | 74 | — | — | 48 | 175 | 181 | 197 | — | 392 | 292 | 302 | 183 | 286 | 353 | 378 | 306 | 392 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 122 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 121 | 22 | 0 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 22 | 22 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 22 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Marin County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Patch Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Patch provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Patch can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Patch 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 (The Patch) 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 The Patch 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.
The Patch is 15 km (9 miles) from the city of Corte Madera. If you plan a vacation in Marin County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Corte Madera. Corte Madera has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











