Surf spots

Each spot gets its own estimate: the offshore wave forecast scaled for how sheltered the spot is, the wind judged against the way the beach faces, and the tide from the nearest NOAA station.

Morro Bay · Cayucos · Los Osos

Cayucos PierFACES SSWBeach break · Intermediate and up Morro Strand State BeachFACES WBeach break Morro Bay SandspitFACES WNWBeach break · Beginners and up Hazard Canyon ReefFACES WNWReef break · Experienced surfers only

Avila · Pismo · Port San Luis

Avila BeachFACES SSWBeach break · Beginners and up Pismo BeachFACES WSWBeach break · Beginners and up

How the estimate works

Open-Meteo forecasts waves on a grid several miles offshore, so it sees Pismo, Avila and Hazard Canyon as about the same size. The Scripps CDIP MOP model follows waves into each beach around headlands and over the sea floor. We learned from two years of MOP how much of the offshore wave reaches each spot, by swell direction, and scale the live forecast with it. Face heights are an estimate of the breaking wave, shown as a range. They have not yet been checked against surf reports, so treat them as a guide.