Morro Bay
Morro Bay, California (San Luis Obispo County), United States
Sports: Surfing, SUP
Best time to go: January–March, December
Morro Bay sits on the central California coast, where Morro Strand State Beach runs north from the giant volcanic plug of Morro Rock. The beach faces west and picks up most north-west swells, which break on shifting sandbars in fun peaks, and the north side of the rock gives a little shelter from wind. Easterly winds blow offshore, mostly early in the day.
The water is cold all year, so a thick wetsuit is needed, and summer often brings fog and onshore wind in the afternoons. Avoid the harbour mouth south of the rock, where the channel is dangerous in big surf and boats come and go. The beach is a good place to learn on small days; on larger swells the outer sandbars suit intermediate surfers.
Month by month at Morro Bay
- January: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 2 m, water 14°C, air 17°C (nights 8°C), 26 sunny days, 7 rainy days
- February: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 14°C, air 17°C (nights 8°C), 24 sunny days, 8 rainy days
- March: 3 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 2 m, water 13°C, air 17°C (nights 9°C), 28 sunny days, 7 rainy days
- April: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 13°C, air 16°C (nights 9°C), 29 sunny days, 3 rainy days
- May: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 13°C, air 16°C (nights 10°C), 30 sunny days, 1 rainy day
- June: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 14°C, air 18°C (nights 12°C), 30 sunny days, 1 rainy day
- July: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 15°C, air 18°C (nights 12°C), 31 sunny days, 0 rainy days
- August: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 16°C, air 20°C (nights 13°C), 31 sunny days, 0 rainy days
- September: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 17°C, air 21°C (nights 14°C), 29 sunny days, 2 rainy days
- October: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 16°C, air 21°C (nights 12°C), 30 sunny days, 1 rainy day
- November: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 15°C, air 19°C (nights 10°C), 25 sunny days, 5 rainy days
- December: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 2 m, water 15°C, air 18°C (nights 9°C), 24 sunny days, 8 rainy days
When is the best time to go surfing at Morro Bay?
January–March, December, when the waves are biggest.
How warm is the water at Morro Bay?
13°C to 17°C over the year: a 4/3 full suit in the warmest month, a 5/4 with boots in the coolest.
How windy is Morro Bay?
About 20 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in April.
Figures from 4 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).
Spots near Morro Bay
- Santa Cruz – Cowell's (205 km)
- Malibu – Surfrider Beach (249 km)
- Mavericks – Half Moon Bay (277 km)
More: All spots in United States · Surfing in United States · SUP in United States
Compare with: Morro Bay vs Santa Cruz – Cowell's · Mavericks – Half Moon Bay vs Morro Bay · Malibu – Surfrider Beach vs Morro Bay