Apache Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on offer.

To be straight with you, the next couple of weeks look pretty grim for a paddle. The forecasts are showing a real flat spell with very little to get excited about. We're looking at a long stretch of marginal conditions, and for the most part, you'd be better off leaving the board at home. There's a bit of a pulse of energy that shows up around July 29th and again at the start of August, but even then, the wind and conditions are just not playing the game.

Let's start with the first week. The water is sitting at a warm 85°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the wait won't be cold.

On Wednesday afternoon, July 22nd, Apache Pier is seeing a 4ft S swell, but it's a short-period 6-second wind swell with a cross-on breeze at 22 mph. The combined energy is weak at 114, and it's just messy. That pattern holds through the rest of the week. Thursday morning, July 23rd, is smaller at 3ft, and still cross-shore with a cross-chop. Friday morning, July 24th, actually has a light cross-offshore breeze and a 3ft SSW swell, making it "clean", but the wave height is so small and the energy is only 80. It's surfable, but barely. The next few days drop off even more, with tiny 1ft to 2ft swells and glassy conditions on Saturday morning, July 25th, and Monday morning, July 27th. It's flat, pure and simple.

We get a little bump on Wednesday, July 29th. The morning shows a 4ft SSW swell with a 6-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 142 (moderate energy). But the wind is a moderate cross-shore, creating a cross-chop. It's still "poor surf conditions" according to the charts. Thursday morning, July 30th, is glassy but with only a 2ft S swell – not enough to push you anywhere.

The second week kicks off with a similar story. The best chance we get is on Monday, August 3rd. The morning shows a 5ft SSE swell, period of 6 seconds, and combined energy of 142 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-shore, but it's still labeled "poor surf conditions". The afternoon then gets messy with a 5ft S swell, 6-second period, and energy of 171 (moderate), but the wind swings to a moderate cross-on at 16 mph, making it choppy. Tuesday, August 4th, has a 4ft SSW swell in the morning with a gentle cross-shore, but the energy drops to 135. After that, it's all downhill again into the tiny stuff.

Honestly, there's no standout session here. The swell is present in pulses, but it's short-period wind swell, the wind is rarely clean, and the break is an exposed sandbar that needs everything to line up. The best of a bad bunch would be that Friday morning, July 24th, if you're desperate for a clean-looking wave, but you'll be fighting for knee-high slop. For the rest, it's a solid pass. The conditions look like they'd be more fun for a kite than a surfboard on most of these days, especially when the wind is up and the waves are choppy.

Rusty.

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