Surf's Up
Surf

Color palette

← Central California Coast report

Central California Coast · Wednesday, Sep 23

Cayucos

NWS LOX · San Luis Obispo County Beaches / Santa Barbara Central Coast Beaches; official reef-face range: 4–7 ft

When to go

7:00 AM–9:00 AM

Looks good · Moderate confidence

3.6–3.7 ft · Coastal waves · not surf height

Wind: 2.8 kt · cross-shore

Forecast details
  • Waves are forecast to reach this beach.
  • Light wind should keep the water smoother.
Other wind windows

Plan around the wind

The best available upcoming daylight wind sample to compare with the wave evidence. This compares wind only; wave size, tide suitability, and hazards can change your choice.

  • 8:00 AM–10:00 AM · America/Los_Angeles

    Light wind · up to 4.1 kt · reported gusts up to 10.3 kt

    Coastal waves at about 10 m depth: 3.6–3.6 ft across the period. Surf height unavailable. Tide data available; check the local tide response.

    Wind source time: Sep 22, 4:45 PM PDT. This is not the model run issue time.
How these periods are chosen

The planner prefers three consecutive hourly samples covering two daylight hours, but retains shorter one- or two-sample evidence when that is all the forecast provides. Light wind means at most 6 kt. Moderate offshore means at most 12 kt from land toward the sea when shore orientation is verified. Strong wind or known gusts of 20 kt or more remain visible as cautions instead of making the entire comparison disappear. These are comparison labels, not locally tested surf-quality or safety ratings. Missing gusts remain unknown. Terrain shelter, currents, closures, and your ability are not assessed.

Wind WNW 2.8 kt

Tide 3.5 ft rising

Wave, wind and tide details
CDIP coastal waveSW 3.6 ft @ 13sECMWF forecast valid Sep 23, 8:00 AM PDTSL400 · significant wave height at 15 m depth · not breaking surfCDIP issued Sep 22, 2:54 PM PDT · upstream model cycle not providedSpectral split: ≥10 s 2.7 ft · <10 s 2.4 ft
Coastal period bands20 s and longer: 0.5 ft · energy-weighted direction 216°14–20 s: 1.6 ft · energy-weighted direction 217°10–14 s: 2.1 ft · energy-weighted direction 232°Under 10 s: 2.4 ft · energy-weighted direction 260°Band heights combine as energy, not by addition. Period bands are not separately identified swell systems. Forecast omits wave periods shorter than about 4 s.
Offshore model swellWNW 5.6 ft @ 7sValid 2026-09-23 08:00 · America/Los_AngelesMarine grid 35.3750, -120.8750 · offshore model, not a local measurement
Offshore model sea6.1 ft @ 9.3sSignificant wave height including wind waves and swell; not breaking surfValid 2026-09-23 08:00 · America/Los_Angeles
Model windWNW 2.8 ktcross-shoreValid 2026-09-23 08:00 · America/Los_Angeles0.4 kt offshore component
Tide3.5 ftrisingNOAA Port San Luis 9412110 · 34.3 km from Cayucos · predicted height relative to MLLWRetrieved Sep 22, 5:29 PM PDT · provider issue time unavailable80% of adjacent local low–high range · descriptive, not a safety rating
NWS LOX · San Luis Obispo County Beaches / Santa Barbara Central Coast Beaches

Surf Height...................4 to 7 feet. Thunderstorm Potential........None expected. Water Temperature.............62 to 64 degrees. Tides.........................Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 03:49 AM PDT. High 4.3 feet (MLLW) 10:17 AM PDT. Low 2.1 feet (MLLW) 03:39 PM PDT. High 5.2 feet (MLLW) 09:35 PM PDT. Remarks.......................West swell.

THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAYOfficial county coastal-zone breaking-surf range; local sets and individual break transformation remain unresolvedIssued Sep 22, 2:00 PM PDT

Surf height unavailable. Coastal and offshore waves are not breaking-wave heights.

Coastal waves and wind

CDIP significant wave height at about 10 m depth. Gaps remain gaps; no breaking-wave range is implied.

Coastal significant wave height and wind by hour for Cayucos; not breaking surf.

Buoy-driven nowcast for available past hours; labeled coastal forecasts for future hours. Changes of source can cause discontinuities. Values and source labels are listed below.Wind arrows point from the reported direction

Hourly forecast

Hourly surf forecast for Cayucos
TimeCoastal waves · ~10 mWindTideOffshore swell
SW 3.6 ft @ 14sW 0 ktcross-shore2.5 ftfallingWNW 5.2 ft @ 6s
SW 3.6 ft @ 13sN 2.1 ktoffshore1.5 ftfallingWNW 5.1 ft @ 6s
SW 3.7 ft @ 13sNNW 2.6 ktoffshore1 ftfallingWNW 5.1 ft @ 6s
SW 3.7 ft @ 13sNE 1.2 ktoffshore0.5 ftrisingWNW 5.1 ft @ 6s
SW 3.7 ft @ 13sN 1 ktoffshore1 ftrisingWNW 5.0 ft @ 6s
SW 3.7 ft @ 13sNW 1.5 ktcross-shore1.5 ftrisingWNW 4.9 ft @ 6s
SW 3.7 ft @ 13sWNW 2 ktcross-shore2.5 ftrisingWNW 5.1 ft @ 7s
SW 3.7 ft @ 13sWNW 2.1 ktcross-shore3 ftrisingWNW 5.4 ft @ 7s
SW 3.6 ft @ 13sWNW 2.8 ktcross-shore3.5 ftrisingWNW 5.6 ft @ 7s
SW 3.6 ft @ 13sNW 2.1 ktcross-shore4 ftnear highWNW 5.2 ft @ 7s
SW 3.6 ft @ 13sENE 4.1 ktcross-shore4 ftfallingWNW 5.0 ft @ 7s
SW 3.6 ft @ 13sENE 4.8 ktcross-shore3.5 ftfallingWNW 4.7 ft @ 6s
SW 3.6 ft @ 13sENE 3.6 ktoffshore3 ftfallingWNW 4.8 ft @ 7s
SW 3.6 ft @ 13sNW 4.7 ktcross-shore3 ftfallingWNW 5.0 ft @ 7s
SW 3.6 ft @ 13sNW 11.3 ktcross-shore2.5 ftfallingWNW 5.1 ft @ 7s
SW 3.6 ft @ 13sNW 11.3 ktcross-shore2.5 ftrisingWNW 5.1 ft @ 7s
SW 3.5 ft @ 13sNW 6.9 ktcross-shore3 ftrisingWNW 5.0 ft @ 7s
SW 3.5 ft @ 13sS 4.7 ktonshore3.5 ftrisingWNW 4.9 ft @ 6s
SW 3.5 ft @ 13sSSE 4.6 ktonshore4 ftrisingWNW 4.8 ft @ 6s
SW 3.4 ft @ 13sSSE 4.1 ktonshore4.5 ftrisingWNW 4.7 ft @ 6s
SW 3.4 ft @ 13sSSE 3.1 ktcross-shore5 ftnear highWNW 4.5 ft @ 6s
SW 3.3 ft @ 13sE 1.2 ktcross-shore5 ftfallingWNW 4.4 ft @ 6s
SW 3.3 ft @ 13sSSE 2 ktonshore4 ftfallingWNW 4.3 ft @ 7s
SW 3.3 ft @ 13sSE 1.9 ktcross-shore3.5 ftfallingWNW 4.1 ft @ 7s
3.6 ft coastal waves

SW 14s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindW 0 ktcross-shoreTide2.5 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 5.2 ft @ 6s
3.6 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindN 2.1 ktoffshoreTide1.5 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 5.1 ft @ 6s
3.7 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindNNW 2.6 ktoffshoreTide1 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 5.1 ft @ 6s
3.7 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindNE 1.2 ktoffshoreTide0.5 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 5.1 ft @ 6s
3.7 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindN 1 ktoffshoreTide1 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 5.0 ft @ 6s
3.7 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindNW 1.5 ktcross-shoreTide1.5 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 4.9 ft @ 6s
3.7 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindWNW 2 ktcross-shoreTide2.5 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 5.1 ft @ 7s
3.7 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindWNW 2.1 ktcross-shoreTide3 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 5.4 ft @ 7s
3.6 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindWNW 2.8 ktcross-shoreTide3.5 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 5.6 ft @ 7s
3.6 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindNW 2.1 ktcross-shoreTide4 ftnear highOffshore swellWNW 5.2 ft @ 7s
3.6 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindENE 4.1 ktcross-shoreTide4 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 5.0 ft @ 7s
3.6 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindENE 4.8 ktcross-shoreTide3.5 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 4.7 ft @ 6s
3.6 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindENE 3.6 ktoffshoreTide3 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 4.8 ft @ 7s
3.6 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindNW 4.7 ktcross-shoreTide3 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 5.0 ft @ 7s
3.6 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindNW 11.3 ktcross-shoreTide2.5 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 5.1 ft @ 7s
3.6 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindNW 11.3 ktcross-shoreTide2.5 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 5.1 ft @ 7s
3.5 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindNW 6.9 ktcross-shoreTide3 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 5.0 ft @ 7s
3.5 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindS 4.7 ktonshoreTide3.5 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 4.9 ft @ 6s
3.5 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindSSE 4.6 ktonshoreTide4 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 4.8 ft @ 6s
3.4 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindSSE 4.1 ktonshoreTide4.5 ftrisingOffshore swellWNW 4.7 ft @ 6s
3.4 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindSSE 3.1 ktcross-shoreTide5 ftnear highOffshore swellWNW 4.5 ft @ 6s
3.3 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindE 1.2 ktcross-shoreTide5 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 4.4 ft @ 6s
3.3 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindSSE 2 ktonshoreTide4 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 4.3 ft @ 7s
3.3 ft coastal waves

SW 13s · ECMWF forecast · about 10 m depth, not breaking surf.

WindSE 1.9 ktcross-shoreTide3.5 ftfallingOffshore swellWNW 4.1 ft @ 7s

Tide

NOAA Port San Luis 9412110 · 34.3 km from Cayucos · MLLW

Tide height by hour for Cayucos. Approximate interpolation between predicted high and low events. Heights range from 0.5 to 5 feet.

Interpolated tide height Recommended window
About this spot

Model-grid forecast requested at the mapped coordinate; reef, headland, and nearshore transformations are unresolved. Sandbar break.

Mapped spot coordinate: 35.45, -120.91.

Mainland · Coast not verified · Ocean-facing bearing 225° · Location provenance

Model request point: Cayucos (35.45, -120.91). Model output times describe valid conditions; the provider does not expose the model run issue time in this response.

CDIP SL400: 35.4338, -120.9119 · 15.00 m depth · 197° shore normal · shore type 1 · 1724 m transect. CDIP named Cayucos Pier output point; exact named break and south-southwest-facing transect. CDIP metadata.

Forecast sources

Data coverage 5/5 sources

Source availability is not forecast accuracy. Where an empirical model passes historical testing, its error and interval coverage are shown above. Source count cannot increase that confidence.

Coverage tier A · US_CA · spot-level model point

NWS LOX · San Luis Obispo County Beaches / Santa Barbara Central Coast Beaches; official reef-face range4–7 ftCurrent · Sep 22, 2:00 PM PDT
  • NWS LOX · San Luis Obispo County Beaches / Santa Barbara Central Coast Beaches
    NWS LOX · San Luis Obispo County Beaches / Santa Barbara Central Coast Beaches; Official county coastal-zone breaking-surf range; local sets and individual break transformation remain unresolved    Current
  • Coastal Data Information Program THREDDS
    CDIP SL400 (35.43385, -120.91185; 15 m depth); CDIP named Cayucos Pier output point; exact named break and south-southwest-facing transect.; significant wave height at mapped coastal depth, not breaking surf    Current
  • NOAA NDBC real-time station files
    Current buoy observations are not forecasts for the selected future date.    Not applicableNo source time
  • NOAA CO-OPS Tides and Currents API
    NOAA Port San Luis 9412110 · 34.3 km from Cayucos; predicted high/low events above MLLW, converted to feet. Timestamp is retrieval time; provider issue time is not supplied.    Current
  • Open-Meteo Marine API
    1 of 1 configured model points available    Current
  • Open-Meteo Weather API
    1 of 1 configured model points available    Current
  • Surf-Forecast public pages
    Spot discovery and break-specific HTML fallback    Not applicableNo source time
  • Surfline public spot pages
    Break-specific comparison, cams, and metadata    Not applicableNo source time
How best guesses are made

Best guesses combine usable wave and wind evidence, with qualitative confidence and specific limitations. A missing tide or local surf-height model does not prevent useful guidance. Tide levels use the named station datum; their effect at this break remains uncertain. Wind direction is relative to the mapped beach orientation, without calibrated terrain or shelter effects. The comparison is a heuristic, not a measured quality rating.