As of 17:00 GMT-7 on 16 October 2026, Santa Cruz scores 43/100 (Fair) for surf on PeakWave.
Wave energy: limiting. Wave alignment: ideal.
No sea temperature here today, so the cold-water check is left out.
What's driving it
Don't bother today: 43.
Better nearby
Nothing else in Santa Cruz County beats Santa Cruz by a clear margin today.
See every Santa Cruz County surf spot today⚠ Rocks exposed at low tide
- Some safety checks are unavailable. Check local advice before setting out.
- Main limiter
- Wave energy
- Strongest positive
- Wave alignment
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
What matters for this session
Read the swell size, period and direction together with the wind at the beach. The tide chart below adds timing context for this break.
Today's forecast
Local time 7:31pmSession recommendations are unavailable while safety or forecast evidence is incomplete or a red flag is active.
Tide
Modelled tideHeights relative to mean sea level
Best on mid tide
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWorking in Santa Cruz this season?
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Each location is refreshed every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Santa Cruz. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical mid-October.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Partly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
When is the best time for Surf at Santa Cruz?
The best week for surf at Santa Cruz is the week of 30 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.