Ballona Creek and Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, family, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The good news is there’s something on the cards, but this isn't one of those weeks where you gotta set your alarm for dawn patrol and race out the door. It’s gonna be a game of patience, and you’ll need to pick your moments.

The main story for the next couple of weeks is a whole lot of small, weak swell. We’re looking at waves mostly in the 1 to 3 ft range for most of the period. The energy is all over the place, to be honest. We’ll see some moderate readings, like 247 or 300, but for the most part, it’s going to be weak, with the combined energy dropping down to figures like 94 and 122 at times. This is not the time to be reaching for your step-up board. The swell direction is hanging in that SW to SSW zone, which is okay for the spot, but the size just isn't there to make anything of it.

We do have a notable warm-water story, though. For our first recommendation, the water’s going to be sitting around 71°F with an anomaly of 5°F. That’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, so a thinner wetsuit or even a spring suit might be your best friend.

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty. The first real window to even think about paddling out at Ballona Creek and Jetty is Monday morning, August 17. It’s a beach/jetty setup, and it’s fairly consistent, but it’s not without its issues. We’ve got a clean 2 ft of SSW swell with a 14-second period. That’s a longer-period groundswell, which for a jetty/beach break can get a little wonky, but it does mean there’s some energy behind it. The combined wave energy reads at 211, so it’s moderate, and we have a light offshore wind. It’s marginal, but it’s the best the forecast has to offer to start things off.

Honestly, after that little blip, Monday afternoon and the entire day Tuesday, August 18, look pretty grim. The swell stays small, around 2 ft, but the wind goes cross-onshore, and things just look messy. Not worth your time.

There’s another minor uptick on Wednesday morning, August 19. Again, we’re looking at 2 ft of SSW swell with a 15-second period, which is good, and the energy is at 251. A light cross-onshore breeze will put a few ripples on the face though. It’s another “maybe” call, but nothing more.

From there, we hit a real lull. The rest of that week and into the next, we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel. Waves are tiny, around 1 to 2 ft. The combined energy is weak, often below 200, and the wind stays on or cross-onshore. There are several days—like from Thursday, August 20 through Tuesday, August 25—where there is just nothing to recommend. It’s a flat spell, folks. The kind where you’re better off checking the tide pools or just enjoying the beach.

We start to see a little more life building towards the final stretch. The swell pulses slightly on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24. It’s still only 1 ft, but the period stretches out to 18-19 seconds. That’s a very long period swell, which is a tricky one for a beach break—it tends to just close out and not form proper peaks. But there’s a bit more energy in the water, with readings of 230 and 231. Still, with light cross-onshore winds, the quality is questionable at best.

The standout, if you can call it that, is the final weekend. Around Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30, the swell is set to push up to 3 ft from the SSW, with a 16-17 second period. The combined energy finally gets into the strong-ish zone, hitting 351 and 353. Sunday morning, August 30, looks the best of the bunch: 3 ft of SSW swell, 16 seconds, and a light cross-onshore wind. It's still not big, but it’s the most powerful and consistent we’ve seen all forecast. This will be your best bet for a few fun, albeit small, waves. The Monday after, August 31, also holds some promise with a 3 ft SSW swell and similar energy.

Don’t get too excited for the first week, it’s mostly a write-off. The second week, especially that final Saturday to Monday, has a little bit of genuine hope. It’s long-range though, so temper your expectations, but it’s something to look forward to.

Alright, that’s the picture. It’s gonna be a grind, but the ocean’s always out there. Be patient, pick your window, and you might just snag a couple.

Stay stoked.

Rusty.

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