Here's the surf forecast for Santa Cruz for the coming weekend.

Data for this forecast are from NOAA and FNMOC WW3 models. Also the tide predictor at the University of South Carolina's Wethey Lab Home Page.

Swell: Northwest windswell 4-7 feet 7-8 seconds, background south and southwest swells 2 feet or less 11-15 seconds
Wind: Moderate northwest wind late morning
Waves: Knee high
Tide: 1 foot at dawn, 4.5 feet at 2 PM, 2 feet at dusk
Weather: Foggy early, clearing later
Best call: Longboard at dawn, higher tides for the rest of the day should swamp the small swell

Swell: Northwest windswell 7-9 feet 8-9 seconds, background south and southwest swell 2 feet or less 14-17 seconds
Wind: Moderate northwest wind late morning
Waves: Knee to waist high
Tide: 1.5 feet at dawn, 4.5 feet at 2:30 PM, 2 feet at dusk
Weather: Sunny with patchy fog early
Best call: Longboard at dawn. It will be marginal early, but less and less likely to be breaking as the day wears

Swell: Northwest windswell 5-7 feet 7-9 seconds, background south and southwest swells 2 feet or a little more 12-16 seconds
Wind: Light west wind starting in the morning
Waves: Waist to chest high
Tide: 2 feet at dawn, 5 feet at 3 PM, 2 feet at dusk
Weather: Sunny with patchy fog early
Best call: Interesting situation. Tide is fairly deep all day, not good for the low tide breaks. However, the best (still modest) swell of the weekend will be Sunday. Be adventurous, try a new break that can handle higher water levels.

Expect small longboard waves at dawn Friday and Saturday. Best swell Sunday, but not epic. Try a remote break with exposure to the entire ocean (S, SW, and NW swells) that breaks at higher tides. Consider yourself among the lucky ones if you catch a few chest-high peelers.

CU Out There,

DogMan