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Gray Whale Cove 86.4

#1222 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇺🇸 United States of America · California · near San Mateo

Works almost every day, no off season, thick rubber.

Works all yearIntermediate
Surf score86.4 /100
Surfable days100% of the year
Clean days38% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell55% period 11 s+
Typical size1.5 m 4.8 ft median
Water14°C a 4/3 with boots

Best time to surf Gray Whale Cove

The best time to surf Gray Whale Cove is January, November, December. The season runs Mar to Mar. In January the water sits around 14°C, so pack a 4/3 with boots, and the typical wave is 1.9 m. The nearest airport is SFO (13 km) and the nearest town is San Mateo (19 km).

MonthSurfableCleanSizeWaterSuit
Jan99%72%1.9 m14°C4/3
Feb100%36%1.6 m14°C4/3
Mar100%47%1.6 m13°C5/4
Apr100%36%1.6 m14°C4/3
May100%13%1.6 m12°C5/4
Jun100%11%1.4 m12°C5/4
Jul100%16%1.3 m13°C4/3
Aug100%23%1.2 m15°C4/3
Sep100%40%1.2 m16°C4/3
Oct99%51%1.3 m16°C4/3
Nov100%66%1.4 m14°C4/3
Dec99%56%1.8 m14°C4/3

Why 86.4

Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.

Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
23.0
Groundswell 12%
10.9
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
4.0
Water comfort 10%
0.6
Access 10%
9.7

The detail

Faces 270° with 47% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 70% of days. Mean peak period 11.5 s. Days over 3 m: 1%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 27%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates 37.565, -122.515 (OpenStreetMap).

Spots nearby

Montara🇺🇸 United States of America · score 86.4Pedro Point🇺🇸 United States of America · score 87.4Linda Mar🇺🇸 United States of America · score 86.8Rockaway Beach🇺🇸 United States of America · score 86.6
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